C9 Gold Card Owner

"You are about to leave, and the effect of the Crimson Power will soon fade."

"You have a core card in your possession, which allows you to retain this effect. Would you like to keep it? Yes/No?"

A flurry of system prompts filled Matthew with joy. He hadn't realized just how advantageous his status as a Cardholder could be. Without hesitation, he chose to retain the effect, and his consciousness returned to his room. Eagerly, he checked his panel and found a series of descriptions:

Crimson Power's effect: One: Increases attack damage by 20%.

Two: Attacks include a slowing and burning effect.

Additionally, the label "Cardholder" had changed to display "1/3." Upon investigating, the system informed him that the core card could retain three effects. Matthew felt a twinge of disappointment but quickly realized the power he already possessed was formidable. He wondered how he had become a Cardholder. He suspected Tina might have the answers, but without a way to reach her, he was left with his questions unanswered.

Two years later, in Matthew's cozy abode, a notification chimed: "Player Tina is requesting a call. Do you accept? Yes/No." He had just completed a canyon mission. As was his custom, Matthew began to reflect on his performance—a habit he had cultivated over the years. Thanks to his Cardholder status and an array of high-quality cards, his success rate for missions was incredibly high, with only one failure in numerous attempts. That sole defeat came from an exceptionally challenging canyon mission, which had prompted him to deliberately hone his skills. Missions in the small world were manageable, but the canyon missions, with their peculiar demands, required exceptional skill and strategy.

Repeatedly drawing cards had solidified his understanding of the unique nature of his Cardholder identity. Reviewing his assets, he had a three-star white-quality Athena, a two-star blue-quality Tyler, a one-star purple-quality Leonard, a two-star white-quality Doyle, and dozens of one-star white cards—all at just Level 13. It was no surprise that Matthew's completion rate was so high, considering that the difficulty of dungeon missions scaled with the player's level, and the canyon missions were significantly simplified by the red buff. Matthew remained determined to uncover the secrets of being a Cardholder, yet he had not gleaned a single clue.

Tina suddenly appeared, and Matthew sensed that the secret of the Cardholder was about to be unveiled. As he initiated the call, Tina's irresistible voice rang out again, "Little brother, have you been missing your sister?"

Matthew was brimming with questions and eagerly inquired about the Cardholder.

"You've noticed, huh? The Cardholder is actually a prestigious title, crucial for gaining access to the inner area," Tina explained leisurely.

"Isn't reaching level 20 the only requirement to enter the inner area?" Matthew was confused. Wasn't it common knowledge that one could enter at level 20?

"Yes, reaching level 20 is necessary, but it's not as straightforward as that. When the time comes, the system will unlock the Mysterious Realm, and that's where your Cardholder identity comes into play. I received a silver card, and Cardholders can sense each other. I could tell you had a gold card, although I'm not sure how you got it. It might have something to do with the system glitch that day. I'm here to invite you to a special Mysterious Realm that's accessible to Cardholders. I thought we could team up..." Tina said with a secretive smile, unaware that Matthew's entry method was different from the rest. In truth, Matthew's Cardholder status originated from the deceased uncle, something he had suspected for a while.

"Team up? We can do that? But I'm not even level 20 yet; I have no idea what the Mysterious Realm is," Matthew pressed.

"I can invite you to join a team. Don't worry, the Mysterious Realm doesn't impose any penalties. Plus, you need to navigate through five Mysterious Realms to reach the inner area. If you succeed this time, you'll have one down," Tina enticed. After a brief consideration, Matthew agreed, reassured by the lack of penalties.

"So, do we head out now?"

"Hold on, the Mysterious Realm isn't open just yet. Let me first introduce you to the other team members," Tina said, leading the way out of the city.

Matthew trailed behind, his mind buzzing with excitement at the thought of meeting other top players. Before long, a massive seaside mansion came into view. Surely, this was the base of operations, and Matthew couldn't wait to see what awaited inside.

"Why, brought a pretty boy with you? I'll keep you company." A gruff voice echoed through the hall as soon as we entered. It belonged to a hulking man with an extraordinarily disproportionate physique. Standing at two meters tall, his upper body was massive, while his lower legs were thick and covered with dense black hair. His first words were coarse and unrefined.

"You really have a death wish, daring to mess with Nana?" The unpleasant voice made me turn to see a skinny, tall man with a sharp face and pronounced cheekbones. The fact that his slender Adam's apple could produce any sound seemed like a miracle.

"Alright, let me introduce you. This is Matthew, our final teammate for the Mysterious Realm," Tina announced to the group just as Matthew was taking in the assortment of characters in the hall.

"A gold cardholder, acceptable," a subdued voice suddenly cut in. Matthew then noticed a man in the corner, someone with such a low presence that he had been completely overlooked until he spoke up.

Tina continued with the introductions, "This is Scott," referring to the burly man. "Hey, kid, what's your lineup like? If it's not up to par, I won't approve." Scott's intimidating demeanor seemed to challenge Matthew.

"Take it easy, Matthew's new here. Don't frighten him off," Tina chided, and Scott, seemingly wary of her, fell silent. "This is Derwin. He's got a formidable team of assassins, the strongest being a three-star Oliver," she added, gesturing toward the lean man. "Not bad at all, a rookie with a gold card," Derwin remarked, showing a hint of admiration for Matthew.

"And this is Tong Wenwen. He's got a Mage setup that can switch to support, boasting a three-star Apate and a three-star Demon Ox," Tina said as the man she mentioned gave a nonchalant nod, exuding an air of mystery.

"We five are heading into the Mysterious Realm to rack up more points. Alright, I'm off. Derwin, fill Matthew in on the Realm; he's still green," Tina concluded before heading upstairs, presumably to rest.

With Scott and the man from the corner gone, Matthew and Derwin were left standing amidst a mix of curiosity and anticipation.

"Why are you just standing there? Come, take a seat." The man called out in a peculiar tone. It might have been his normal way of speaking, but it was grating on the ears. Matthew settled onto the couch and listened as the gaunt man with the nasally voice detailed the Mysterious Realm.

The Mysterious Realm's emergence was a rare event, yet whenever it did appear, both Cardholders and certain elite players would receive early notifications. This particular instance was dubbed 'Wasteland Mystery,' requiring a team of five to endure 20 days within to be deemed successful. Notably, it was one's consciousness that entered the Mysterious Realm, where various treasures could be found and later exchanged for points upon exiting. These points were also a crucial prerequisite for gaining access to the inner areas.