But as his fingers hovered over the deck, the system popped up another prompt, just as he’d started to draw:
[Would you like to set a deck summon chant? A personalized chant can be triggered even under duress to summon your deck at any moment. Recommended to be a unique phrase.]
[Would you like to assign a summon signal? Yes/No]
Jalen considered it, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. It was tempting to assign something flashy—a memorable command he could use in the heat of battle. But he decided to hold off for now. He’d come up with something later, something that felt truly his.
“Not now, system,” he murmured, his gaze steady on the deck in his soul.
[Physique Status]
Mana: 80 out of 120
The quick stats refresh settled his thoughts. He could summon the full deck three times with his current energy, perhaps more if he learned to manage the spirits and keep his tactics tight.
With his deck fully summoned 5 cards were dealt into his hand and humming with readiness, he let hand hover over the one he felt the best resonance with. On the card it had an image of a red salamander the size of a large dog.
The flavor text read the most passionate of the lesser elementary spirits. It's is loyalty can be compared to man’s best friend. It's a lonely creature among the lesser spirits as it's power is naturally destructive leading to the other elementary spirits to avoid them.
The card cost two mana and when Jalen tried to activate the card he was hit with feedback. Jalan felt his mind split. His primary focus was still on the salamander card in his hand, but another part of him was pulled away to answer a question. Did he want to draw a card, generate energy, or do nothing?
He was stunned for a moment before quickly realizing what was going on. Jalen steadied himself, pulling his thoughts into focus. The feedback he felt when trying to summon the salamander was more than just a rejection; it was a reminder that every card, every action, carried consequences. His deck and the system were more than just tools—they were partners in his journey, constantly nudging him to grow smarter, more deliberate in his choices.
“Alright, system, show me the full energy breakdown,” he commanded, his tone sharpening as he sought clarity.
The translucent interface adjusted, now displaying a more comprehensive energy dashboard:
[Energy Breakdown]
- Mana Reserves: 80/120
- Energy Reserve: 1
- Energy Consumption: 0 mana/min (idle state)
- Deck Summon Cost: 40 mana
- Card Activation Cost: Variable (2–15 mana per card)
- Passive System Costs: None detected
The data was illuminating. Jalen quickly ran through the implications in his head: he had enough mana to play around with his deck a little, but spamming cards would leave him drained and vulnerable in extended encounters. The key to success would be finding a rhythm—generating energy while keeping expenditures lean.
His gaze drifted back to the Salamander card. The flavor text tugged at him, making him wonder if the card’s isolation mirrored his own circumstances. But now wasn’t the time for sentimental musings. He needed to decide how to act.
The system’s prompt lingered in his peripheral vision, urging him to choose between Drawing a Card, Generating Energy, or Doing Nothing.
- Draw a Card: Pull another card from the deck, potentially expanding his options, but at the cost of strategy—too many cards might overwhelm his ability to manage them effectively.
- Generate Energy: Take a defensive approach and stockpile mana, ensuring he wouldn’t run dry when the battle heated up.
- Do Nothing: Hold steady, maintaining his current energy reserves and staying ready to react.
Jalen took a breath. He needed to think tactically—what choice would set him up for success in the long run? But he realized he was overthinking it a bit. It’s system dummies he won’t get seriously injured no matter what he picks but he will have to think about strategies more later.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
"System," he murmured, the decision forming in his mind. "I choose..."
The action was done before he could even finish his sentence, the system clearly sensing his intent. An extra energy was generated the system then refreshed the status with an additional reminder.
[Energy Breakdown]
- Mana Reserves: 80/120
- Energy Reserve: 2
- Energy Consumption: 0 mana/min (idle state)
- Deck Summon Cost: 40 mana
- Card Activation Cost: Variable (2–15 mana per card)
- Passive System Costs: None detected
“ Always Keeping track of your current energy is a vital part of your class. With too little energy your entire deck is offline with too much you will end up overworking your body. The key is to keep a nice balance. A backup weapon is a top priority for this class. “
Jalen nodded at the system's advice, letting the words sink in. The reminder about balance and the importance of a backup weapon wasn’t new, but hearing it in the midst of a live session drove the point home. Deckmaster was a class built on preparation and adaptability—a single misstep could mean being caught with no cards, no energy, and no way to defend himself.
He glanced down at the Salamander card again, still feeling its warmth resonate through his hand. Its destructive power was enticing, but it was also a double-edged sword. With the energy reserves now at 2, he had a little more room to maneuver.
Jalen mentally mapped out his options:
- Activate the Salamander Card
- Cost: 2 Mana
- Outcome: He could summon the fiery companion and test its destructive power in the training session. A practical test would help him understand how the spirit worked and what it demanded of him.
- Draw Another Card
- Cost: None (so far).
- Outcome: Expanding his hand would give him more options, but it might dilute his focus. Managing too many spirits at once could backfire.
- Generate More Energy
- Cost: None.
- Outcome: Stockpiling energy would set him up for bigger plays down the line. However, it also meant delaying immediate action.
- Do Nothing
- Cost: None.
- Outcome: Sometimes patience was a strategy in itself. He could maintain his current energy and observe how the system responded.
Jalen nodded at the system's advice, letting the words sink in. The reminder about balance and the importance of a backup weapon wasn’t new, but hearing it in the midst of a live session drove the point home. Deckmaster was a class built on preparation and adaptability—a single misstep could mean being caught with no cards, no energy, and no way to defend himself.
He glanced down at the Salamander card again, still feeling its warmth resonate through his hand. Its destructive power was enticing, but it was also a double-edged sword. With the energy reserves now at 2, he had a little more room to maneuver.
The system’s reminder about overworking his body lingered in his mind. That was something he’d need to research further—what did "overwork" really mean for a Deckmaster? Would his body break down, or would his mana simply stop regenerating? The system’s cryptic warnings left him with questions, but for now, he had to focus on this moment.
“System,” he said, his tone deliberate, “activate the Salamander card.”
As soon as he spoke, the card’s image glowed brighter, and Jalen felt a surge of heat as the mana was pulled from his reserves. The warmth in his hand intensified, and a fiery red glow spilled onto the training field. The shape of the salamander began to materialize—a creature as small as a puppy, its body wreathed in flickering flames.
The salamander’s gaze locked onto Jalen, and he felt the weight of its presence—not hostile, but expectant.
The card’s flavor text echoed in his mind: “Its loyalty can be compared to man’s best friend.”
Jalen took a steadying breath. “Alright, buddy,” he murmured, stepping closer to the summoned spirit. “Let’s see what you can do.”
The Salamander lowered itself, flames licking the ground beneath its feet. It was ready—and so was Jalen.