The next morning, 8:00 AM.
Leo woke up feeling incredibly refreshed. His mental energy had fully recharged, leaving his mind sharp and clear.
He planned to stay holed up at home for two more days before heading back to campus to prep for the tournament. Schools were notorious for lack of privacy, and he wanted to churn out as many cards as possible while he could still work in secret.
He did some quick math. Ideally, he needed a solid deck of at least ten cards each for Tiers 1, 2, and 3. Even though he'd hit a home run with Naruto on his first try, he couldn't count on that luck holding out forever.
He conservatively estimated he'd need ten Tier 1 blank bases and ten Tier 2 bases. At 1 Spirit Crystal per Tier 1 and 5 per Tier 2, plus Spirit Ink... he was looking at a budget of nearly 80 Spirit Crystals just to get started, not even counting Tier 3 materials.
"I'm going to have to sell some stuff," Leo sighed.
But what?
Naruto was out of the question. That was his trump card, and he'd need it for the tournament. Besides, if he started selling Naruto system cards now, he'd be painting a massive target on his back. A new Story System would attract every talent scout and corporate shark in the city. Leo wasn't exactly the "center of attention" type.
His gaze drifted to the clutter on his desk. Right, the original owner's collection.
The kid had been dead-set on the tournament, so he'd amassed a decent stash. Leo rummaged through them, spreading them across the table. It was mostly a "Wuxia" martial arts deck, a few generic fairy tale units, and one utility equipment card.
Seeing nothing he wanted to keep, Leo dumped the lot into the System's marketplace. The System was surprisingly fair, only taking a 5% commission. By the time the sales cleared, his balance had surged to 117 Spirit Crystals.
Seeing his digital wallet grow gave Leo a sudden rush of motivation. He was ready to craft.
But what next? A Tier 1 card had a very low power ceiling. If he made a pure combat unit, it wouldn't be much better than a common foot soldier.
Instead of chasing raw power, why not... utility?
Leo's eyes lit up as a memory clicked. His old world was full of characters who were terrible fighters but absolute geniuses in support roles.
Take Big Big Wolf from Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf, for example.
To be honest, as a hunter, the wolf was a joke. He couldn't catch a sheep to save his life. But his R&D skills? Legendary. Give that wolf some scrap metal and a screwdriver, and he'd build you a death ray or a rocket ship in his backyard.
"If I make a 'Researcher Mode' Big Big Wolf..." The more Leo thought about it, the more brilliant it seemed.
A Tier 1 card probably couldn't summon a giant mecha, but what about power armor, gadgets, or tactical gear? All he'd need was a secondary card to provide the raw materials.
"Let's do it."
Leo closed his eyes, visualizing the design. He didn't want the standard tattered-shorts-and-patched-hat look. He wanted the Scientist.
He pictured a crisp white lab coat, high-tech goggles, and a multi-functional scanner strapped to the wolf's head. He imagined Big Big Wolf holding a welding torch in one hand and a heavy wrench in the other, with a tool belt full of screwdrivers and meters. The background would be a cluttered, oil-stained laboratory filled with blueprints and half-finished inventions. Even without reading the text, any player would know this was a support-type unit.
Next: the story.
What was the essence of Big Big Wolf? He was the underdog who never stayed down. No matter how many times he was blasted into the horizon, he'd be back the next day with a better invention. He was a devoted husband to Red Wolf and a father who would build the world for his son. Most of all, he was a scientific prodigy in a world of sheep.
Leo organized the core feats: the weather controllers, the shrinking rays, the time machines, and the high-tech gadgets from the movies. He condensed it into a tight narrative for the Tier 1 capacity:
Big Big Wolf, the resident inventor of the Green Green Grassland. Unlike his peers who relied on claws and teeth, he believed in the absolute superiority of science. Driven by the desire to provide for his family, he delved into forbidden technologies, creating inventions that defied common sense. Though his luck was abysmal, his genius was undeniable. Given the right parts, he could build the future.
"That's the one."
Leo opened his eyes and grabbed a Tier 1 blank base. He dipped the Spirit Pen and began.
Twenty minutes later, the illustration was done. The "anime" style popped against the sterile card base—vibrant, expressive, and full of character. It was a far cry from the stiff, realistic art typical of this world.
Now for the injection. Leo pressed his hands to the card and funneled the story, the personality, and the "never-say-die" spirit of the wolf into the base.
The card began to glow.
White... Blue... the Blue deepened into a rich, royal shade.
Leo held his breath.
The light flickered, turned Purple, and finally locked into a deep, shimmering Epic hue.
Card Profile
* Name: Big Big Wolf (Research Form)
* Quality: Purple (Epic)
* Tier: Tier 1
* Type: Summon Card
* Story System: Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf
* Cost: 100 Psionic Energy
* Effect: Summons Big Big Wolf in his Research Form.
* Trait: [I'll Definitely Be Back!] – After being defeated for the first time, Big Big Wolf shouts his catchphrase and retreats. He automatically respawns at full health after 5 minutes.
* Flavor Text: "If you're looking for a husband, Big Big Wolf is the gold standard~"
> [Note]: A brand-new Story System. Creator Leo has obtained primary copyright.
> [Hint]: This card has entered this month's Tier 1 Crafting Leaderboard.
>
"Yes!" Leo pumped a fist. An Epic Tier 1 card!
While Big Big Wolf wouldn't be winning any fistfights, his utility was off the charts. Leo was already imagining the combos. He could potentially out-equip and overwhelm an opponent before they even had enough energy to summon their heavy hitters.
The 2D world was officially broken in a 3D reality.
Leo admired the purple-bordered card. Under the light, Big Big Wolf looked both hilarious and strangely intense.
"Now," Leo muttered, "I just need to pair you with a supplier."
Big Big Wolf needed scrap, parts, and materials to build his gadgets. To make this work, he needed a companion card that could generate resources on the fly.
Who would fit? Doraemon was a candidate, but Tier 1 was too low for the 4D Pocket. Franky from One Piece? Maybe, but a full shipwright might be too much for a Tier 1 base. Or maybe just a pure resource-generating unit?
Leo started brainstorming, but after two high-intensity crafting sessions, his focus began to waver. Even as a transmigrator, he wasn't immune to the occasional failure. He decided to take a
breather before attempting the next piece of his deck.