After finishing my meal and returning to the dormitory, I glanced around carefully before taking out my key to open my room door.
Man, I don't know if there's anyone bored enough to stalk an 11-year-old student, but better safe than sorry.
After all, shounen plots don't exactly go easy on kids. The villains are always the ones with personality issues.
I sat down on the bed and placed my books on the desk.
"Phew, watching that battle gave me even more reason to grow stronger quickly."
At the current stage, the highest level monster they can summon is Level 7. The power level is still similar to the early days of Yu-Gi-Oh! DM. There are no Alchemist, Dimension, or Yin Yang mechanics yet.
Why do I know this? Well, I just went and asked them.
Of course, the students from the Gilgamesh class definitely wouldn't answer, but the Beowulf class was extremely enthusiastic.
Even the strongest senior student right now (not counting the Guardians or Heroes) uses a Level 7 monster as their main force, and from what I know, he has several cards centered around that key monster.
Although I already knew most of this from playing the game many times, since I've come to this world, I had to confirm it properly.
Having determined the current level of the duelists in this world, there's nothing to worry about… Well, I'm still a bit worried, but I need to stay confident if I want to succeed.
"In two more years, Fusion Summoning with Alchemist will appear. Then one year after Alchemist, Dimension Summoning will appear. As for Yin Yang, the students from the Qin Shi Huang class treat it like a secret art and only reveal it if they duel against a special opponent from their class."
It's best not to unlock those summoning methods right now. It's still too early. Once I'm strong enough and have enough materials, I'll definitely rely on them.
"Alright, time to keep reading."
I opened Darwin's Theory of Evolution and began reading carefully.
The Theory of Evolution in this world is somewhat different from the one in my original world.
Because of magic, diverse regions, extreme climates, and all kinds of wondrous monsters, the theory here covers many different issues. However, it still shares the same core point:
Natural Selection
Evolution is not a process of learning, but a ruthless massacre carried out by nature.
When a ferocious beast is thrown into an even harsher environment, the environment does not help it rewrite its genetic code to adapt. On the contrary, the environment acts as an executioner.
It hunts down and exterminates all individuals carrying weak genes. Only those beasts that happen to possess beneficial mutations — those who were born already destined to be better suited — have the right to survive and pass on their bloodline.
Elimination is the only filter of life. Without the death of the unfit, the wheel of evolution would remain forever still.
"..."
I stared into space, deep in thought.
I already had an idea.
One Field Spell and one time-related card.
I want a card that had similar power to Time Wizard, the monster that can make opponent and allies getting older
And because those monster are different to animal, so I don't have to worry about the Mutant or something, monster are strong from the start! (Well, some of them not)
The plan is this: Use a Field Spell with a harsh environment, place the monster inside it, then use a time-related card to accelerate its development through that harsh environment.
The result would be an evolved monster!
…Of course, since magic exists here, we don't always have to follow real science. This will be my prototype version.
I set the evolution book aside and opened the book on how to craft Special cards.
Yes, Field cards are Special cards, not Spell cards like in Yu-Gi-Oh.
Knock knock knock
"Hm?" I looked up at the door.
Knock knock
Since the room was soundproof, I couldn't hear the voice from outside, so I walked over and looked through the peephole.
Red hair appeared in front of me.
Yeah, no need to guess who it was.
"What do you need?" I slowly opened the door.
"Ah! I need your help with this!" Lucas held out a messy notebook with handwriting so bad it was indescribable.
"…What subject is this notebook for?"
"Alchemy! Don't you know?"
His handwriting was so atrocious that even seeing it at first glance, I couldn't tell what it was.
"So what do you need? Help with the homework?"
"Yeah! You're the only person I can ask. No one else wants to help me. And even when I do find someone, the moment I open my notebook they get scared and run away. It's so weird."
No, it's not weird at all. If I saw someone with handwriting like that asking me for help, I'd probably run too.
"…Come in."
"Awesome! Thank you so much, my friend!!" Lucas excitedly entered my room.
"Please don't break anything."
We both sat next to each other and placed the notebook on my small desk.
"So what do you want me to explain?"
"How to craft monster cards!"
"Teacher Rook already taught us that last time. We even practiced and created our first monster card, remember?"
"But the starting monster and later monsters are different, right?"
"They're not that different! At most, their intelligence levels are worlds apart!"
Did this guy even listen in class?!
"The three most essential materials are magic powder, chalk, and a magic core. After that, if you want to create a certain type of monster, you add the corresponding materials. If you want to make a dragon, add dragon scales."
"Wait, so I can add as many as I want? Dragon scales!"
"I'm going to punch you. You want it to explode and waste the materials?"
Oh my god… Dragon scales are high-grade materials. Using even one is already something you have to think carefully about, and this guy wants to add so many it explodes?
While I was getting tired dealing with Lucas, he noticed the evolution book.
"Huh? You're reading this book too?"
…What?
"You know it?"
"Yeah, my uncle read it to craft some card. He succeeded in making it, but he wasn't satisfied and said it was lacking."
"…Can you tell me about that card's ability?"
"Umm… I don't remember clearly, but… it made my uncle's monster become more spiky. Though its appearance didn't really change much."
"What's the card's name?"
"I think it was… 'Development Beyond Time'?"
I suddenly stood up, startling Lucas.
That's right! How could I forget?
The one and only card that can only be obtained by completing a hidden quest.
Probably because players had become strong enough that they no longer needed it and left it in their storage.
Damn it. "Development Beyond Time" is a card that allows a monster to become significantly stronger. It's similar to Time Wizard but skips the aging part and only applies the power the monster would gain after time passes.
It's like the Ultimatrix—creating a simulation where an alien goes through brutal environments to evolve!
Unfortunately, this card is worse than the Ultimatrix because it doesn't provide an ideal environment. It only allows development in whatever land the monster is currently standing on.
But that's more than enough! I need this card.
"…Can you send a letter to your uncle? I want to ask for the recipe to make the 'Development Beyond Time' card."
"Huh? Sure, I was planning to write to him anyway."
As expected, becoming friends with Lucas always pays off! If I knew this, I would've befriended everyone!
And so I became more patient (probably) with Lucas while helping him with his work.
The sky gradually darkened. Curfew was approaching, so Lucas said goodbye and returned to his room.
I was thinking about a few things.
How should I combine "Development Beyond Time" with a Field card?
Even though I've never tried combining these two types of cards before, I'm pretty sure that according to game mechanics, they wouldn't work together.
But the problem is, I'm now living in a world where the game has become reality. Is it possible for them to work together here?
"Hmm…"
The more I thought about it, the more impatient I became.
"Whatever, thinking too much is tiring. I should take a shower."
So I took off my coat—
Immediately, the entire room felt like a freezer, and I took the full brunt of it.
"..." I quickly put the fur coat back on, my body still shivering.
How the hell am I supposed to shower now?
Scratching my head, I looked at the crystal necklace I was wearing.
"…Should I risk it?"
I really wanted to shower. If I could endure the cold for a bit, I could still do it. Plus, I had the crystal anyway.
"Fine… Let's do it… Just a little cold… Just a little cold!!!"
I took off my coat again.
A scream immediately rang out from room 103, though it was soundproof so no one could hear it.
***
5:30 AM
"…Ugh."
My eyes slowly opened. I scratched my head and yawned.
"Wow, it was freezing. I should've taken my coat off in the bathroom instead of here…" I sighed and looked around.
My entire room had literally become a freezer. It was insanely cold.
"Surprisingly, I handled the cold pretty well. If it were a normal person, they probably would've gone into hibernation…"
How am I going to clean this room later? If I leave it like this, anyone who comes in will think they stepped into the Arctic.
"Reporting it to the teacher might get me punished and docked points. After all, this is school property… I'll deal with it later. No one else lives in this room anyway."
With that, I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth, wash my face, and check my schedule.
"Morning has three periods of math and two periods of physical education. Afternoon has three periods of Contract Card Theory and two periods of Alchemy. Ugh, thank god it's not four or five periods of math," I sighed at the intense study pressure.
Although this academy gave students privileges and benefits no other place could offer, in return the schedule was as brutal as a typical Asian student's.
The only saving grace was that the academy gave students from Grade 6 to 9 Saturdays off, unless you reached Grade 10, then Saturday classes were added.
Grabbing my books, I opened the door and stepped outside.
There were other students outside too—some the same age, some older.
Most of them were gathered around a notice board.
"Huh?" I looked at them in confusion.
The student dormitory wasn't just a place to sleep. It was also a social area where students gathered to chat and read announcements.
Since there were seven dormitories in seven different areas, classes didn't know much about each other's internal affairs. That's why the journalism club's newspaper bulletins served this purpose.
Occasionally, there would also be official academy notices, which had a special verification seal that couldn't be faked.
"Whoa, an 8th year student from Beowulf got defeated by a 9th year from Gilgamesh. The Boxing Club has been disbanded and the space given to the Gilgamesh class."
"What? A Gilgamesh student?"
"Yeah, the undefeated Earth Dragon of Gilgamesh—Gutius."
For new 6th year students, they probably didn't know who he was, but anyone who had been at the academy for a year knew exactly what kind of person he was.
"I heard it's his 10th straight victory. A Level 7 monster really is powerful and helps him a lot."
"Ever since he created that Level 7 monster, his win streak has kept growing. It's honestly terrifying."
"As expected of the Dragon element. Anyone with dragon type is basically guaranteed to be strong."
Hearing the older students talk, the new students began to understand.
Because Level 7 monsters were very powerful and rare, having one basically meant dominating your year.
"If this keeps up, he might even aim for the Guardians. Who do you think he'll challenge first?"
…Alright, I get that you admire or are jealous of him, but don't exaggerate to the point of thinking he can beat the Guardians.
Most Guardians were final-year students or had only a few years left until graduation. Their decks were obviously much deeper and contained many powerful cards.
Moreover, becoming a Guardian meant competing against many students with similar card counts and experience to prove your strength.
Even if I built the strongest team using type to counters, I would still have a hard time against them. This Gutius guy is nowhere near their level yet.
Especially the 3rd strongest Guardian (according to lore). Behind her cute angelic appearance and adorable pink fairy-type deck, she was the one who caused me the most suffering!
Fairy-type sounds like a support element, but once you experience it, you realize it's full of world-destroying cannons and invincible dragon hunters!
Her fairy deck was literally designed to hard-counter dragon decks. If you had even one dragon in your deck, she would find a way to slap it to death!
But ngl, she had huge breasts and was really kind. She even snuck into the player's room to sing lullabies so they could sleep, even though the player had never told her their room number.
…Wait, something seems kinda wrong there. Whatever, I must just be scared of her.
"Igor?"
"Hm? Oh, it's you, Alvin." I turned around and saw Alvin.
"What's going on here?" Alvin looked around and asked.
"Nothing major. Just an older Gilgamesh student beat an older Beowulf student."
Hearing that, Alvin nodded in understanding and didn't pay it any more attention.
Since they were only 6th years with just one card each, serious dueling matters like this were still far beyond their reach.
Except for me. I didn't want to be free XP.
Alvin and I headed to class together.
This time, Kaiser was already sitting properly in his seat, having arrived the earliest.
"I'll go first this time," Kaiser adjusted his glasses with a serious expression as he looked at me.
"..."
This guy takes winning and losing way too seriously!!