The Cards of Fate

This is their routine. It's always the same. John is returned to his holding cell—no compassion, no empathy, just the cold, methodical actions of the soldiers who view him as nothing more than a tool. Once the door locks behind him, he is left in the dark room with the other mutants, each of them broken in their own way, victims of the same cruel experiment.

John's body trembles, his strength fleeting. But his mind, though clouded by the haze of pain and exhaustion, refuses to give in. There's still something there—something deep within that refuses to be crushed. It's a flicker of rage, of defiance. It's the only thing keeping him going.

The doctor's words, the soldiers' cold actions—they mean nothing to John now. They might have taken his freedom, his body, but they can never take his will. He may not have the strength to escape today or tomorrow, but in his heart, he knows one thing: they have made a mistake. They've underestimated him.

His breathing comes in shallow gasps as he slumps against the wall of the cell. His body screams in protest, every inch of him aching, every breath a struggle. But still, there is a fire in his eyes. It might be small, but it's there—flickering, refusing to die.

They think they've broken him. They think they've won.

But they haven't. Not yet.

Taking another shaky breath, John activates the system interface. The familiar glow of the blue screen appears before him, listing his current points: 30. He clenches his fists, his resolve strengthening as he prepares to spin without hesitation. Ten cards appear, and he starts checking them.

1. Background Customization x3

"With this, I can create backgrounds for myself in this world or another—perhaps even for my summons. It'll be invaluable once I escape."

2. World Travel Card (Game of Thrones)

"Six months in the Game of Thrones world—a perfect opportunity to practice and gain experience."

3. Nichirin Sword

"Straight out of Demon Slayer. Designed to kill demons, but here, it could be a powerful weapon against vampires."

4. Hoenn Region Pokémon List Book

"A comprehensive guide to the Pokémon of the Hoenn region. It'll be incredibly useful if I ever travel there."

5. 5x5 m³ Mokeskin Pouch

"From the Wizarding World, imbued with an extension charm. It lasts for a year, which is more than enough time to put it to good use."

6. Kunai x100

"From the Naruto universe. That world is far darker beneath the surface—much more dangerous than the story reveals. Funny, before all this, I'd started reading a fanfiction on webnovel about a protagonist reincarnating as Kakashi with gacha powers. I wonder if the author ever updated more chapters."

7. Zoro's Bounty Poster

"No practical use, but it's from after the Wano Arc. Still, nice to have."

8. Template Transformation

"With this, I can transform into my Template character. The possibilities are endless."

9. $89,000 USD

"Cash. Simple yet essential—money is key to survival in any world."

Looking at the last card, John couldn't help but let a sinister smile spread across his face.

"Temporary or not," he muttered to himself, "it's enough to get me out of here." He traced a finger over the card, its details etched into his mind.

"Funny," John chuckled darkly, "how someone like him talks about peace, considering his own past." The irony only fueled his determination.

His mind raced with plans as he slipped the card into his pocket. "Tomorrow, when they take me out of this place, it will be their last day. They won't see it coming."

The room fell silent except for John's faint laughter, echoing ominously in the dim light.

From a corner of the room, one of the boys muttered under his breath, "Has he finally lost his mind?"

The others exchanged uneasy glances, the same thought evident in their eyes.

The door slid open with a metallic groan, and the soldiers filed in, their presence immediately chilling the air. Without a word, they began to move through the room, their eyes scanning for their target.

One of the soldiers pointed at a boy with blond hair. He froze in fear, his eyes wide with terror, and began to beg.

"No, no! Please, don't take me there!" the boy cried, his voice trembling as he struggled against the soldiers' grip. But it was useless. The soldiers showed no sign of empathy, dragging him away without a second thought. His cries echoed down the corridor as he was taken, his fate sealed.

John's smile remained, faint but unmistakable. He watched the scene unfold with cold indifference, the others still trembling in fear around him. But his mind was already elsewhere, calculating, waiting.

One of the soldiers noticed John's unsettling grin and began to approach him. As he drew closer, he muttered, "Looks like Dr. White finally broke him."

Another soldier moved in as well, his expression a mixture of curiosity and amusement. Reaching down, he gripped John by the hair, jerking his head back to force eye contact.

Looking into John's eyes, the soldier's smirk faltered for a moment. The smile on John's face was chilling, his gaze unyielding, not even a flicker of fear.

"Yes," the soldier said slowly, an uneasy tone creeping into his voice. "It seems you've really lost it, haven't you?"

But John said nothing. His mind was far away, and his smile only deepened, knowing that their underestimation of him would soon be their downfall.

Leaving the mutants the soldiers left with the boy for his session.

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Author's pov

Can you guess which card he got.