System manipulation and Card Proficiency

Blake's eyes scanned the horizon, his mind still turning over the information he had gathered from Ivankov. His origins, species, and the threat of the World Government loomed large in his thoughts. But another mystery intrigued him: his system. Has he become his host because of his transmigration, or is there more to the play?

Ever since he had been thrust into this body, the system had been his edge, allowing him to unlock and use the powers of characters from various worlds—though those characters were unfamiliar. Still, the system had layers, and Blake was sure he hadn't uncovered all its secrets yet.

With a thought, the card menu materialized in his mind, displaying the three cards he had unlocked so far: Heimdall, Hanataro, and, most recently, Mikoto Misaka.

After probing the cards a bit, Blake found a hidden submenu within the card menu. It displayed his current card levels, detailed proficiency numbers, and an option to level up the cards using Aether Points (AP). The discovery gave him more insight into how far he had progressed with each card.

Card Proficiency Overview:

Heimdall (Level 9, 700/900 Proficiency):

This card had been Blake's most reliable. The enhanced vision had become second nature to him, allowing him to perceive things most people missed. Blake had been training it regularly, and the card was approaching the next level.

Hanataro Yamada (Level 9, 50/900 Proficiency):

Blake hadn't needed the healing abilities of Hanataro much, which explained the slow progress. While the card had potential, its limited use made it the lowest priority in development.

Mikoto Misaka (Level 0, 40/100 Proficiency):

He had unlocked the Mikoto Misaka card recently, and while the electro-master abilities intrigued him, they were still at the early stages of development. Small sparks of electricity were all he had managed so far.

Blake frowned slightly as he examined the level-up options in the hidden menu. He could use AP to increase the levels of his cards, but the cost was high. The system displayed the current AP requirements:

Level 9 to Level 10 (Heimdall): 1000 AP required.

Level 9 to Level 10 (Hanataro): 500 AP required.

Level 0 to Level 1 (Mikoto Misaka): 200 AP required.

Leveling up with AP is possible, but the cost... And it's not even uniform. I'll need to be more strategic. I only have 550 AP right now, not nearly enough to max out anything. I need to gain more proficiency naturally through training and battle.

His eyes shifted to the random card draw menu. The basic random draw option tempted him. The thought of unlocking another character's abilities was appealing, but he knew a significant element of luck was involved. The chances of getting a high-tier character from a basic draw were slim.

Still, the curiosity gnawed at him.

Blake hesitated briefly, then tapped into the Basic Random Draw option. He had 550 AP, enough for a few draws. He decided to give it a try.

Two buttons appeared—one labeled "100 AP" and another labeled "Coupon" Since he had no coupons left, his only option was to spend 100 AP.

Without hesitation, Blake tapped the 100 AP button.

Instantly, the interface shifted. A beautifully crafted wheel appeared, glowing softly with various symbols and colors representing different characters from unknown worlds. The wheel was bordered by shimmering lights, giving it an almost ethereal presence.

Blake's eyes followed the wheel as it began to spin. It picked up speed, the symbols blurring together into a vibrant display of colors. The longer he watched, the more he could feel the anticipation building. He didn't know the result, but he hoped for something at least useful.

The wheel began to slow, its spinning gradually easing until the symbols became more distinct. The lights flickered, and with a soft chime, the wheel stopped. At the center, a new card materialized, shining brightly.

Blake narrowed his eyes as the character came into view. The frame was simple, and the name appeared in an unimpressive font:

Card: Magikarp (Tier 1)

Character Template: Magikarp (Pokémon)

Abilities: Splash (Does absolutely nothing).

Description: "A fish out of water... and in water. Known for its famous Splash attack, which does nothing at all."

Blake stared at the card, his face unreadable. What the hell am I supposed to do with a fish?

He dismissed the card immediately.

After making another payment, the wheel spun again. Blake felt a twinge of hope, but it quickly faded as the next card appeared.

Card: Chopperbot (Tier 1)

Character Template: Chopperbot (Futurama)

Abilities: Minor repairs to small machinery, no combat ability.

Description: "Need to fix a coffee machine? Chopperbot's got you covered. Need to fight? Find someone else."

Blake's eyes narrowed in frustration. He had no machinery to fix. The card was practically useless in this world.

Blake sighed, feeling the futility of his draws, but decided to give it one last shot. This time, the colors shifted on the wheel, and the card that appeared differed from the previous two.

Card: Mirror Knight (Tier 3)

Character Template: Mirror Knight (Ultraman series)

Abilities: The user gains the ability to manipulate light and reflections using mirrored surfaces. It allows the creation of illusions, temporary light refractions, and the ability to redirect beams or project light in various directions.

Description: "Master of reflections, bending the light of reality. Use mirrors to create illusions or manipulate the path of light to your advantage."

Blake paused, studying the card carefully. This one... this had potential. The ability to manipulate light through mirrors or reflective surfaces could come in handy, especially if he needed to counter an enemy that used light-based attacks.

Blake stored the Mirror Knight card in his deck. The first two draws had been disappointing, but this one was different. It wasn't flashy or powerful like Mikoto Misaka or Heimdall, but its tactical applications could be crucial in the right scenario.

I'll keep this one. Light manipulation has uses, especially if I run into anyone who relies on it. But the others... Blake glanced briefly at the Magikarp and Chopperbot cards. Absolutely useless.

With 250 AP remaining, Blake closed the card menu. The system had potential, but he would need far more AP to draw anything truly powerful. For now, he had enough to work with: Heimdall's vision, Mikoto's electricity, and now Mirror Knight's light manipulation.

He moved to a quiet corner of the ship to test his new abilities. The sound of the ocean and the distant chatter of the crew provided the perfect backdrop. He had been working with his Heimdall card, pushing it further than before. 

As Blake continued his training, something shifted. His vision, which the Heimdall card had already enhanced, began to evolve. At first, it was subtle—moments of clarity that felt different from the usual heightened awareness the card provided. But soon, Blake realized it was more than just a sharper perception.

It came to him during a simple exercise—tracking a bird in flight above the ship. For a brief moment, he saw its path before it happened, as if the bird's movements had been mapped out just ahead of time. Then it hit him: this was the card's new ability.

Blake paused, focusing his mind. The future sight he had unlocked at Level 10 allowed him to see moments ahead—three seconds into the future. But something more was happening. His Aetherian eyes seemed to resonate with the card's new power, extending the ability beyond its standard limit. What should have been a brief glimpse stretched into five seconds, the world revealing flashes of the immediate future with surprising clarity.

Card: Heimdall (Level 10)

Character Template: Heimdall (Norse Mythology)

Abilities:

Enhanced Vision: Grants superior dynamic visual perception, allowing to see minute details, track rapid movements, and notice subtle shifts in the environment with heightened clarity.

Gaze Intimidation: Project an intimidating aura through eye contact, weakening the resolve of those who meet his gaze.

Future Sight (Unlocked at Level 10): See up to two seconds into the future, gaining the ability to anticipate movements and actions just before they happen.

Resonance (special): Due to the Aetherian eyes, this ability is enhanced, extending the future sight up to five seconds, allowing for broader foresight in combat and strategy.

Description: "The watcher of all realms. With vision beyond mortal capability, Heimdall's eyes see the truth of the present and hints of the future. As time flows, so do the glimpses of what's to come."

Blake tested it further, narrowing his focus on objects and movements around the ship. Each time the future sight kicked in, showing him what was to come. The resonance between his eyes and the card was powerful, giving him a broader window of foresight than he had expected.

The realization settled in as a quiet triumph. Heimdall's power had reached a new level, and with it, so had his understanding of what his Aetherian heritage truly meant.

Satisfied with his progress, he turned his attention to the Mirror Knight card. The Hanataro card—though useful in healing—didn't fit his current needs. He removed it from his deck, replacing it with Mirror Knight. The reflective powers were subtle, requiring focus to manipulate light properly, but Blake soon found ways to refract light off the ship's metallic surfaces, creating small illusions in the sunlight that danced and flickered. He wasn't yet sure how he would use this in battle, but it was clear the potential lay in misdirection and strategy.