The First Card Play Series (2)

Chris clenched his teeth, his eyes wide open, the usual calmness in them replaced by a fiery red intensity. He strained to summon the last remnants of his perception, while his hand moved with the gentleness of a breeze, graceful and controlled. With a delicate flick, the pen traced an impossibly fine arc, barely glowing with a light too faint for the naked eye to see. 

Then, with a sudden twist of his wrist, Chris applied force in a powerful final press. The last shred of his perception flowed into the card with that decisive motion. The entire card surface suddenly blazed with light, the faint glow exploding into brilliance before quickly returning to normal. The card in his hand now appeared as an ordinary illusion card, with no visible sign of anything remarkable. 

Only the brief burst of light, leaving a vivid afterimage on Chris's retinas, hinted at the immense energy that had been poured into its creation.

Chris collapsed into his chair, completely drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, but his eyes sparkled with joy. He had done it! Despite the nerve-wracking process, he had succeeded! This illusion card was the most complex one he had ever made, and the amount of perception it consumed far exceeded his expectations, but he had still managed to pull it off. An indescribable sense of joy filled his chest. 

His hands, slightly trembling from fatigue, lifted the card. Even though he knew the pattern on its surface by heart, he could still feel the mystery and power that the card embodied.

The entire day, Chris was in a state of intense excitement. He kept placing the card into the degree meter, over and over, marveling at it each time, never growing tired of it.

The next day, after his excitement had subsided, Chris was forced to confront the reality of what had happened. He realized that luck had played a significant role in his success the previous day. If he were to attempt to recreate the card today, he estimated only a fifty percent chance of success.

Fifty percent—that probability was far too low, indicating a potential for extremely costly failures. Unfortunately, he and Ray couldn't afford such losses at the moment.

Suddenly, Chris thought about the flame dragon illusion card he had previously made. In terms of intricacy, it far surpassed the card he had just created, yet he had found it much easier to make. Why was that? Logically, the flame dragon card should have been more challenging, but the reality was quite the opposite. He remembered clearly that while he had encountered a few minor issues during its creation, the process had been relatively smooth and composed.

As he analyzed the situation more carefully, a realization dawned on him. Although the new card's illusion was simpler in concept, it required a much higher degree of dynamic precision, which made it more difficult for him to craft. Dynamics... dynamics... Chris fell into deep thought, his right hand instinctively tapping the table. Suddenly, he remembered something from the mysterious card's illusion—a different type of card called a "compute card". 

Chris had only skimmed over the knowledge about compute cards, as his focus had been entirely on illusion cards. One phrase had left a deep impression on him: "The essence of compute card lies in dynamic calculation." This phrase had flashed through his mind like a spark. He had a vague feeling that this compute card, a concept he had never heard of before, might hold the key to solving the problem he was facing.

This sudden discovery invigorated Chris, filling him with a surge of energy. Without hesitation, he plunged back into the card's illusion realm. He remained there for two full days and nights. When he finally emerged, his eyes were sunken, his lips cracked, and his body felt utterly drained, devoid of any strength. Despite not having had a drop of water in all that time, his spirit showed no signs of weariness. His eyes gleamed as if he had just stumbled upon a rare treasure.

Euphoria, a mental exhilaration, consumed him, and he was eager to get to work immediately. His weakened physical state forced him to eat and rest first.

Even while resting, his mind refused to slow down. His brain continued to process and assimilate the knowledge he had gained from the illusion void at a rapid pace, while he absentmindedly devoured the bread in front of him.

No one could truly understand the joy Chris felt at that moment—a joy far more intense than when he first learned to create energy cards. Back then, he was young and naïve, unaware of the profound impact that mastering energy card creation would have on his life. But now, he fully understood that this new discovery, the card known as the "compute card," would bring about a monumental change in his future.

For the next three days, Chris immersed himself entirely in his work. He ignored everything happening outside, even driving Ray away when he came to visit. His focus was singular: the new concept that consumed his thoughts. Nothing else mattered to him.

...

Hunter glanced at his classmates, then at the few Star Academy students nearby, and couldn't help but marvel at the difference. Being at East Guard Academy was truly like being in a vast world! The students of East Guard Academy mostly walked on foot, while the Star Academy students glided effortlessly through the air. Although Hunter could fly as well, he knew he couldn't manage it with the same ease as those Star Academy students.

Flying required the use of an airflow card. The basic core of the market-available hover cars was also an airflow card. The structure of the shuttle vehicles made it easy for them to take off and fly, but the human body was not naturally suited for flight. To fly using just an airflow card required highly advanced control skills. The higher the grade of the airflow card, the stronger the currents it produced, and consequently, the more difficult it was to control. 

In addition to precise control, flying also demanded exceptional balance. Most East Guard Academy students used light cards, a simplified version of the airflow card. Light cards generated a downward airflow, reducing the weight load on their legs. They were convenient and easy to use, significantly speeding up walking and conserving energy.

Skilled individuals generally disdain using such cards. The thrust generated by high-grade airflow cards is incredibly powerful, allowing them to fly faster than hover cars and with far greater agility. Hunter quickly recognized that the airflow cards used by these Star Academy students were at least three-star level. He could use a three-star airflow card himself, but his control was not yet as refined.

The East Guard Academy students looked at the Star Academy students with envy. The sight of them flying effortlessly stirred mixed feelings in the teachers leading the group. Young people often have a competitive streak, and even though they knew the Star Academy students were far superior, they still pushed themselves to move forward with all their might. The pace of the group immediately quickened, and the teachers, seeing this, did not intervene.

Soon, they were approaching a dangerous area. It was only then that the leading teacher ordered everyone to stop and rest, allowing them to regain their strength. Most of the East Guard Academy students were panting heavily; the burst of speed had taken a toll on their stamina, and card cultivators generally didn't have a significant advantage in terms of physical endurance.

In contrast, the Star Academy students remained composed, their breathing steady and untroubled.

The teachers felt a bit embarrassed by the comparison, they were well aware of the dangers ahead. No matter what, they needed to ensure the safety of their students.

Among the Star Academy students, one wearing glasses suddenly turned his head and swiftly raised his right hand, fingers spread. A crescent-shaped, pale white energy blade, about half the size of a palm, appeared above his hand, resembling a curved moon. A cold gleam flashed behind his glasses as he gently pushed his right hand forward. The crescent blade seemed to break free, shooting out like an arrow from a bow, slicing through the air with a sharp whistle, and hurtling towards a thicket about 300 meters away.