Cards

We'd watched the fireworks from the dorm rooftop, the colors bursting across the night sky in a dazzling cascade of reds, blues, and golds.

The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of smoke and something almost nostalgic.

I knew Jihan had noticed the way my shoulder stayed pressed against Ahrin's the entire time, just like I hadn't missed the way his fingers inched closer to Minhye's, despite the both of them blushing furiously.

Neither of us said anything about it.

It had been a beautiful night. The kind that made you want to freeze time, just for a little while longer.

But now?

Now we were back on the bus, the thrill of the field trip already fading into memory.

Jihan had fallen asleep promptly so I finally took a look at the quest rewards.

1 Diamond card and 3 Platinum cards. It was easily the biggest reward I'd received yet. 

I silently muttered. "Claim Diamond card."

A glimmering light materialized in front of me, condensing and shifting until a familiar card formed in my hand. Its surface gleamed with a faint iridescence, the kind that made it feel just a little more real than the Platinum or Gold ones.

I turned it over.

Normal Card

Load

Allows the user to load a Crew Member's card to use on themselves.

- Can only be used once per day

- Can only load up to 3 cards

This… this was a game changer. I no longer had to rely on solely my own strength… if I could guide my other members down the path of Awakening…

I stayed silent.

Honestly?

Awakening still confused me. I'd thought that it was merely a rule from the Lookism verse, an awakening of one's potential. The fact that people from this world could do it too… was it because he was in my crew that he was able to do it?

Did I rewrite his body's rules by adding him into my crew?

It was something I pondered as I summoned the crew window and then peered into Jihan's stats.

I finally had the option to look at his stats when using Mind Control and holy shit.

⚪ ⚫ 

[Name: Yoo Jihan]

[Height: 175 cm]

[Weight: 65 kg]

[Strength: SSR+]

[Speed: SR+]

[Potential: B] Awakened!

[Intelligence: S+]

[Endurance: SR+] 

Brother was fucking insane. 

I had lost count of how many lesser level up cards I'd gathered, both from quests and Card Master but even then…

Did technique matter that much?

I suppose Jihan was kicking ass even when he was narratively described as a bag of bones so strengthening his body had just shot up his combat power.

His stats now finally matched his skill and I had no doubt he could match up to other reps even with lower physical stats.

I hummed and then opened up his Awakening cards.

Awakening - Jihan Yoo exclusive Attack card

Infinite attack

Grants the user the ability to land an infinite sequence of attacks. After 2 attacks, the next two attacks will be landed simultaneously.

*Continues until the opponent loses consciousness.

Awakening - Jihan Yoo exclusive Trigger card

Mind control

Removes the user's mental nature and lets the user use their body to its maximum potential giving them a boost in all stats.

Infinite Attack had the potential to be one of the most dangerous Awakening abilities I'd ever seen. 

If it worked like it sounded, then Jihan could keep doubling up on attacks endlessly, gaining momentum with every strike until the opponent physically couldn't continue. 

Which meant speed… I'd need to use my level up cards on his speed if he ever needed them from now on.

Mind control would be the biggest asset as of now since it improved my raw stats and removed all hesitation from my attacks. All humans subconsciously held back… especially teenagers, meaning that this?

This was a godsend.

And then I opened up the next 2 cards.

Attack Card

Guard fist

Allows the user to block any attack once.

- Can only be used once per day.

Normal Card

Camera

Allows the user to put up a small holographic screen and monitor the surroundings of the Crew Member of their choice.

Well those were pretty useful.

I could already tell that guard fist would be saving my ass later. Camera was a huge violation of privacy but…

A grin snuck onto my face.

"Use Camera on Sehun."

The screen popped up right in the center of my vision, the dim glow flickering as it adjusted to the feed. At first, all I saw was a mess of blurred colors… then it stabilized, and I immediately choked back a laugh.

Sehun was sleeping.

Face smushed against his desk, arms sprawled out, completely dead to the world.

His room looked like a war zone, discarded clothes on the floor, a half-eaten cup of ramen perched precariously on the edge of his nightstand, and a pile of schoolbooks acting as his pillow. His phone was lying face-up next to him, the screen still on, showing an unread message from…

Siyeon: you still up?

Siyeon: You left your charger with Sehee dumbass.

Siyeon: Did you die?

Sehun didn't move an inch.

I leaned back in my seat, watching the feed with barely contained amusement. I had half-expected something suspicious, maybe him training in secret, plotting something shady, or at least doing something cool.

Instead?

This guy was out cold.

I snickered and then turned off the screen. I'd play around with that more, later.

For now? I needed to open the last card. I turned it over and…

One-time Use card

Let's make a deal

Burns through the potential and intelligence of a Crew Member to exponentially increase their fighting power.

The crew member's potential and intelligence will never recover.

- This card will disappear once used.

I stilled.

This… This was dangerous.

Not just dangerous, it was a fucking landmine. A single use for permanent destruction. Like the indoctrination card, this wasn't a tool; it was a trap. A devil's bargain, wrapped up in the sterile packaging of the Quest Window.

My fingers curled around the card as I stared at the text.

Was this thing trying to turn me into some expansionist dictator? A conqueror who burned through people like disposable pawns?

What the fuck?

What in the actual fuck?

I exhaled sharply and shoved the card into my inventory. Out of sight, out of mind. For now.

The bus rumbled beneath us, its engine humming a low, steady vibration. 

Streetlights flickered past the window, washing the interior in alternating shadows and artificial glow. Outside, our district approached, familiar streets, familiar buildings, the reality of our everyday lives waiting to swallow us whole.

Across from me, Jihan stirred. He rubbed at his eyes groggily, yawning like a kid waking up from a nap that was both too short and too long.

"I don't wanna leave the bus…" he muttered.

"Yeah," I sighed. "Back to reality, huh?"

Then his phone buzzed.

A single vibration. Sharp. Unassuming.

Jihan frowned, clearly not expecting a message right now. He pulled his phone out and tapped the screen, his face illuminated by its glow.

I watched as he cycled through a rapid-fire sequence of emotions in less than a second.

Confusion. 

Denial.

Anger.

And then, finally… a strange, hesitant acceptance.

I leaned over, trying to get a peek. "What's that?"

Jihan didn't answer right away. He just stared at the screen, his expression shifting, solidifying into something I couldn't quite place. When he finally looked up at me, I recognized it for what it truly was.

Something between wariness and disbelief.

"My dad," he said, voice oddly distant. "He's back in the country."

I blinked. "Your… dad?"

Jihan had a dad?

Of course he had a dad, but he'd never been in the picture before. Not in any meaningful way. What was he doing…

Oh.

Oh.

I healed his mother.

If there was anything that could bring an absent father crawling back, I had just done the exact thing.

Jihan's grip on his phone tightened. His jaw clenched.

"Yeah…"

There was something else. Something he wasn't saying.

I frowned. "Jihan. Spit it out."

His eyes flickered, searching my face like he was trying to work out some kind of hidden answer. Trying to figure out something he hadn't quite put together yet.

Then, slowly, he exhaled and spoke.

"You."

I blinked. "Huh?"

"He wants to meet you."

Silence.

The bus rolled to a stop.

I stared at him. He stared back.

"The fuck?"

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Oooh la la~

Jihan has a dad? Damn I never knew.

I'M BACK GUYS!!

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