The first item of interest Sebastian and Eema came across in their exploration of the World Store was a card that, while not immediately useful, was a relief to know existed.
Proxy Shim
Cooldown: 25 hours
Uses: 1/1
Card Slot: Core
Effect: Swap a card in your core deck for another. Card being swapped out is destroyed.
It was twenty orbs. There was another similar card right next to it for two-hundred orbs which only removed a card from your core deck instead of swapping it, and he wondered why anyone would need to do that, but the System couldn’t tell him.
What it could tell him was that he could only use a proxy shim once a new-world day, even if he bought multiple of them.
Still, unlike his heart card, it meant that cards in his core deck could be swapped. It also wasn’t very expensive. So if a card turned out not to be good, he could swap it for something else.
It was a relief that he wouldn’t get stuck with cards that turned out to be crappy, though it was too bad the removed card would be destroyed.
Another interesting item they came across was a deck expander. But it cost ten thousand orbs and only increased deck capacity by one.
“Is that the only way to increase capacity?” he asked the System.
The System confirmed there were other ways to increase his deck capacity, but wouldn’t say more than that, again telling him all authorized information had been dispensed.
He tried to think of anything they might need to get the System to guide them to and remembered the communication crystal Anubis had mentioned.
Turned out there was one for sale, which was hidden away in a corner of the store on a bottom shelf. It was a small crystalline cube which easily fit in the palm of his hand. Or would, if the Store would let him pick it up.
He examined it instead.
Communication Crystal
Uses: 1/1
Effect: Communicate with any valid entity. Rechargeable.
The description was lacking in detail, and the System didn’t have any more information for him. It also cost over a thousand orbs, which, even with the orbs he’d been given, he unfortunately couldn’t afford.
He pulled up his info, scanning it to see if there was anything he might want to look for.
Current Status of aspirant Sebastian Finch
(status limited by current access)
Rank: F0
Holdings: 0
Heart Deck: 1/1
Core Deck: 0/0
Orbs: 189
Titles:
The First Explorer
Prologue Jumper
Looter
Adversary (active)
Fusion-induced additional attributes
Advancement: No realm, Unranked
Core Type: Card system, uninitiated
Techniques: None
(further unknown attributes not displayed)
He understood a bit more of it now than the last time he’d looked, though he still didn’t know what holdings were. All the system would say was that they were a measure of conquered power.
His titles did remind him of something, however. Two things, actually. The first being that he could reset a cooldown, and the second being that he had two titles that could be applied to map cards.
Title: The First Explorer
Effect: Apply to any travel or map card to add the ability to instantly return to locations already explored. Usable once every new-world day.
Title: Looter
Effect: Apply to map cards to highlight the location of aberrations.
“Are there any map or travel cards for sale?”
There were no travel cards for sale, but there was a map card. And it was only forty-five orbs.
[https://i.imgur.com/CDNrLJl.png]
Map (basic)
Rank: Base
Cooldown: None
Duration: Permanent
Uses: 10/10
Card Slot: Core
Effect: Imprint a map of your current subzone onto card. Works only in uncontested zones.
“How big are subzones?”
Sizes vary.
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“It says basic. What’s the next one up?”
A card a few spaces away pulsed with light.
He examined it.
[https://i.imgur.com/468DvnZ.png]
Map (expanded)
Rank: Base
Cooldown: None
Duration: Permanent
Uses: 10/10
Card Slot: Core
Effect: Imprint a map of your current zone onto card. Works only in uncontested zones.
It was seemingly better in that it worked on an entire zone instead of just a subzone—whatever those were—but it also cost nine-hundred orbs. “The price gaps here are crazy.”
“What is an uncontested zone?” Eema asked.
Zones which are currently held by the System.
“Huh, is that what holdings are?” Sebastian asked. “Zones you conquer or something?”
All authorized information on this subject has been dispensed.
“Yeah, and how do I get more authorization?”
By independently discovering more information.
“It really makes you work,” Eema said.
“No kidding. Can I apply both Looter and The First Explorer to one card?” he asked the System.
Yes.
“I think I’m going to buy this. It’ll help find aberrations, and will allow me to teleport.” He shook his head in amazement. “Teleportation. This is crazy.”
“It is an uncommon technique.”
He looked at her. “Wait, you have teleportation?”
“No. Spatial techniques are not my specialty. Other than this.” She summoned then unsummoned her sword.
“I mean in general. There are teleportation techniques?”
“Of course.”
“Wow. We really need to get on you training me.”
“It will take time. But, that is the idea. Why would you want to find aberrations?”
“They lead to anomaly shrines. Or so far they have. Not sure if they lead anywhere else.”
“What are anomaly shrines?”
“You haven’t seen any?”
She tilted her head. “I don’t think so.” She thought for a moment, apparently reading some information from the System he couldn’t see. “Wait, that’s how you disappeared. I was wondering about that.”
“Disappeared?”
“On your… bike. You threw it at me.”
“Uh, what?”
“I was watching you from a roof. You disappeared and threw your bike at me.”
“Yeah, that definitely didn’t happen. The throwing it at you part I mean. But I know what you’re talking about. I was wondering where that bike went.”
“I’m afraid it’s destroyed.”
“Eh, not mine anyway. So, you watched me a lot, huh?” He arched one eyebrow.
“Yes.”
Sebastian sighed. “Flirting with you’s impossible.”
“When were you trying to flirt with me?”
“Never mind.” He returned his attention to his status screen, then wondered something. “Hey, do you have a status screen thing?”
“You’re interested in seeing what’s beneath my façade?”
Sebastian frowned. “Are you trying to flirt?”
“Yes. How am I doing?”
He snorted a laugh. “All things considered, not bad. But no, I really want to know if you have a status screen.”
“If the translation is correct. Information about my abilities, yes?”
“Yeah,” he said excitedly. “Hey, System, is there a way I can see her stats?”
Requesting permission from team member Qin Li Eema…
“What is it?” he asked her after several seconds. She was staring at him uncertainly.
She didn’t answer, only frowned. Then she sighed. “I suppose we should trust each other.”
“Uh, wait, you don’t trust me? You’re the one who found me. And apparently watched me change.”
“I can’t help it that I can see through buildings.”
“Wait, if you can see through buildings, does that mean—”
Permission granted.
Eema’s status screen appeared before him.
Sebastian shook his head and read over it.
Current Status of foreign aspirant Qin Li Eema
Advancement: Beast realm, Dragon rank
(further unknown attributes not displayed)
Fusion-induced additional attributes
(status limited by current access)
Holdings: 0
Core Deck: 0/0
Orbs: 0
Titles: None
“It doesn’t list your techniques,” he noted, comparing her status to his own. “It doesn’t even have a spot for them.”
“It would need access I’m not willing to give it.”
“I wouldn’t either. Techniques are like abilities, right?”
“Yes.”
“Which ones do you have? Is summoning your sword a technique? Can I learn it?”
“It’s—”
A message appeared, interrupting her.
Your item, [Deck Initiator], has been delivered. Pickup is available at World Store network interface.
“It’s ready.” She headed off toward the interface, the thing that looked like a floating star made of tin and bronze.
“You’re not going to answer my question?”
“Later.”
Sebastian sighed, quickly purchased the basic map card, then followed her.
He found a message waiting for him. When he focused on it, an interface similar to the auction system appeared, though with only the one item.
Before he could do anything, Eema grabbed it.
Deck Initiator not compatible with aspirant Qin Li Eema’s core.
Sebastian stared at her incredulously. “Did you… Did you just try to use that?”
She held the initiator out to him. “We have enough orbs to purchase two of them.” She shrugged. “Never turn down more power.”
He took it from her. “I guess you are the one who gave me the orbs. It’s too bad you can’t use it.”
“Yes,” she agreed, clearly disappointed.
“Maybe there’s a way.” He looked at the air in front of him, a habit he’d developed when talking to the System. He wasn’t sure why. It just felt weird to be looking at someone when addressing it. “System, is there any way for her to use cards?”
Unknown.
He gave her a shrug. “At least it didn’t say it’s impossible.”
She gestured at the initiator. “Use it.”
Deck Initiator
Uses: 1/1
Effect: Initiates your core deck. Expands deck capacity to 3.
“Okay then,” Sebastian said, staring at the item, “how do I activate you?”
Items cannot be used within World Store outposts.
“Huh. Is it like a safe zone?”
You are currently in special subzone [World Store outpost, Amsterdam-Shienrenheim]
He looked at the door. “I guess we go outside. Are there any monsters out there?”
Eema shook her head. “I can’t see past the door. This place is isolated somehow.”
“Just like the Bazaar.” He shrugged. “Don’t have much choice.”
They headed outside.
As soon as he was out of the store, a message appeared.
Title [Adversary] triggered.
Sebastian frowned, looking around.
“Uh, you see that message?” he whispered.
Eema nodded, also scanning the area.
“Hear or see anything?”
Eema slowly shook her head. “No. There’s someone, a remnant I think.” She pointed at a building. “That direction. It’s very far away. Around a mile. Did the distance translate?”
“Yeah. But Adversary is only for Vassals. I think.”
He brought the description up so Eema could see it.
Title: Adversary
Effect: Vassals will be warned when you enter their vicinity. In addition, you are able to detect whether someone is a Vassal. This effect applies only to Vassals within the same rank tier as you.
(This is an automatic effect.)
She shook her head. “It’s strange. Hurry up and use the initiator.”
Sebastian looked down at the item. “All right then, here goes.”
Like with the activation of Death Is Not the End, the initiator shot into his stomach, just below his navel.
It didn’t hurt physically, but by the time it was fully settled, he was on his knees and sweating.
At least he hadn’t collapsed on his face this time.
Last time, he’d felt like he was having a heart attack. This time, it only felt like someone was wringing out his intestines.
More disturbing was the accompanying message.
Heart card deactivated
Channels deactivated
Integrating core deck
Time to completion: 51 seconds
“That wasn’t fun,” he groaned. “I can still feel it. At least it doesn’t hurt anymore. It’s still working though. I can’t use anything until it’s done. I wish it had warned me about that.”
Eema nodded down at him. “It is similar on my world. Core formation is difficult. Some people can’t move for days, lest they damage their nascent core. It would have been worse, but that heavenly treasure—the initiator, it accelerated it. It was like watching hours pass in mere moments.”
“Right,” he replied, still catching his breath, “you can see through me.”
“The only difference,” she went on, “is that you already had a core. It had been a mere shell, but now it is growing active. Your channels are still static, however. And your vital force cauldron is active, yet not connected.” She stared at him intently, like he was a puzzle to solve.
Sebastian grunted and got to his feet, wiping his forehead. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Probably because he was too exhausted to focus enough for the System to translate the full scope of the terms she was using.
“And you never will,” a voice said.
Sebastian turned in the direction of the voice and found the American Vassal, Olivia, grinning at him in a way he found quite unsettling.
“Well isn’t that the dramatic entrance,” he muttered.