Master of Divine Cards

Ethan awoke with a throbbing headache, the dimness of his surroundings playing tricks on his vision. Blinking slowly, he tried to piece together his fractured memories. The unfamiliarity of the room felt oddly disorienting.

"Where am I?"

Fragments of memories began to surface. Ethan was a student at a vocational technical institute, which was now his current identity. The reality of his situation hit him like a wave.

"I must have... crossed over."

He rubbed his temples, trying to grasp the situation. The truth was hard to swallow—he had died and found himself in a new world. He recalled his previous life as a software developer, spending grueling hours hunched over a desk, dealing with endless, irrational demands from a product manager. The last night before his death was especially brutal—an absurd request to change the background color of their app based on users' emotions.

Happy: Cheerful Red.

Sad: Melancholy Blue.

Excited: Energized Purple.

His thoughts at that moment were filled with exasperation and a wish for a drastic solution. If only he had a knife on hand...

"Well, it seems I'm dead," Ethan mused with a bitter smile. His previous life had ended, leaving him with an unresolved sense of frustration. The prospect of his product manager discovering his lifeless body the next morning filled him with a dark amusement.

"My life as a developer is over," he thought. "Family? Nonexistent. My parents passed away when I was young, and as for a girlfriend... well, I never had one. I suppose the product manager was always the one boasting about their accomplishments and relationships."

He chuckled softly, the thought of confronting his past nemesis lingering. Yet, he knew deep down that his ultimate goal should be higher.

Taking a deep breath, Ethan decided to let go of his old grudges and focus on his new reality.

The room he was in was small, just five square meters. It contained only a narrow single bed, which sparked uncomfortable memories of his previous life in a similarly cramped rental.

"Could it be..." He feared the worst.

Suddenly, a flood of memories from his new life poured into his consciousness. The previous occupant of this body had led a life marked by contrast to Ethan's own. Growing up in the shadow of a brilliant sister who excelled in every aspect, the previous Ethan had struggled to make his mark. His sister's successes were a source of both admiration and envy.

Ethan scanned through these memories. The former occupant had chosen to become a Card Maker, a respectable but secondary profession in this world, focusing on creating cards imbued with various abilities.

"Card Maker?" Ethan pondered, "Sounds like encoding disks, only with magical abilities instead of data."

Despite the lack of combat prowess, the Card Maker's role was crucial as they could encapsulate powers and illusions into cards for easier use. Theoretically, a skilled Card Maker could encapsulate anything.

Reflecting on this, Ethan considered the role's potential. Although not a combat profession, it was crucial. His predecessor's expertise had been limited to creating basic energy cards due to a lack of experience and resources.

"Calm down. I need to stay focused," Ethan told himself, trying to shake off the unease. He had once faced similar frustrations in his previous life—his struggles as a junior developer, akin to his predecessor's struggles as a novice Card Maker.

The shop he now owned, a testament to the former Ethan's struggle, was a clean and orderly place filled with polished cards and sophisticated equipment. The contrast between the immaculate shop and the disheveled room was stark.

Stepping outside, Ethan was greeted by the vibrant cityscape: towering buildings, bustling streets, and the fresh morning air. The lively atmosphere was invigorating.

"This is the new world I've entered," he said, taking in the sights and sounds.

Ethan took a deep breath, embracing this fresh start. He was determined to make the most of his new life. The past was behind him, and now he faced a new set of challenges and opportunities.

With a sense of renewed purpose, Ethan declared, "Hello, world!"