Akashic_Tales & VIPER SCANS
CardMaster: Awakening the Mythic Codex
Chapter 1: Mythic Codex
——————
"Do you all see it?"
[Countdown 03:10:12]
"These words right in front of us!"
"What does this countdown mean?"
Ethan Drake put down his exam paper and picked up his phone. As he turned on the screen, the mysterious text perfectly overlapped with what was displayed on his phone.
He could vaguely see that the internet was already exploding with activity.
Countless people were frantically posting on various social media platforms, sharing what they were seeing.
After browsing for a while, Ethan turned off his phone.
It was conf i rmed—most people could see these words.
This included Ethan and other high school seniors over 16 years old who were preparing for their exams.
"Drake, you can see it too, right?" His desk-mate Noah Wells nudged him with slightly trembling hands, interrupting Ethan's thoughts. Noah's expression was a mixture of excitement and fear.
"Those words."
Ethan calmly nodded and pointed to the students in front of them.
"Probably everyone in class can see them."
As excitement gradually overtook fear, Noah's expression became increasingly animated. "Do you think it's real?"
Ethan thought for a moment. "Logically speaking, if so many people can see these words that we can't physically touch, it should be real."
Hearing Ethan's words, Noah's face lit up with excitement as he was about to agree.
"But then again, there's nothing logical about this situation in the fi rst place, so maybe it isn't real," Ethan added, dampening Noah's enthusiasm.
Noah's expression froze momentarily, but after looking at the reactions of other classmates, he became excited again. "I feel like this is my chance to rise up!"
"Oh? Why's that?"
Ethan didn't even look up as he continued working on his exam paper. He had already wasted several minutes—enough time to solve a complex problem.
Noah took out his phone and pointed to some icons. "I've always loved playing card games—Stellar Summons, King of Games, Card Master, and others like that."
Ethan kept his eyes fixed on the problems, thinking while giving a half-hearted response.
"Hmm, and?"
"Oh, right!!"
Noah suddenly remembered something and leaned close to Ethan's ear. "Listen, don't tell anyone else, but I suspect this Cardmaster game might let you write a background story, draw an image, and create your own cards.
You should quickly look up mythology stories and fi nd background information on powerful characters."
Seeing Ethan's skeptical expression, Noah became anxious. "Don't be doubtful! All the card game novels I've read describe it this way."
Ethan nodded reluctantly. "Fine, I'll look into it."
With that, he picked up his exam paper and continued working, ignoring the countdown.
As a qualified dimensional traveler, Ethan had focused on studying since his arrival in this world.
This was the most effective way to improve himself that he could currently manage.
After all, the Federation had a population of over ten billion people, more than in his previous life, and all of them could see these words and would enter the game.
To stand out among so many people, Ethan still felt that studying was the most practical approach. At least his current grades were decent.
Just then, footsteps echoed from outside the door.
A figure rushed into the classroom.
It was their previously absent homeroom teacher.
"Everyone, quiet down," he shouted, then quickly turned on the classroom's multimedia system, connected to the internet, and opened the Federation's news channel.
Everyone's attention was drawn to the familiar fi gure on the screen.
"We interrupt with breaking news."
"Due to unknown causes, abnormal text has appeared in the vision of all humans over sixteen years of age throughout the Federation. This phenomenon has not been observed in other species."
"The Federation has established the Cardmaster Authority to fully investigate this matter."
"Currently, apart from affecting vision, no other negative effects from the countdown have been discovered. We ask all residents to remain calm and not panic. Please contact your local police station immediately if you notice any abnormalities."
The broadcast ended abruptly. The teacher tapped the blackboard and said, "You've all seen the news. Don't panic, and try to ignore those words as if they don't exist."
"Due to these unusual circumstances, school is canceled for today, and tomorrow's morning reading session is canceled as well."
"Everyone, go home quickly and stay safe on your way."
With that, he hurriedly left the classroom.
As people stared at the countdown, their initial fear gradually transformed into excitement and anticipation.
The classroom fi lled with the rustling sounds of students packing their bags. Soon, students were walking out of the classroom in groups of three or fi ve, heading home together.
Ethan returned to the small apartment he rented alone. He skillfully opened the door and quickly locked it behind him.
He sat down at his computer, his handsome face appearing pale in the glow of the screen, flashing many News and Rumours:
> Predictions about the Cardmaster Realm: Doomsday or Hope!
> The Coming of a New Era: What Kind of Impact Will It Have on Society?
> New Divine Church, Savior of the New Era! Let Us Welcome the Arrival of the Lord Together!
As the countdown neared its end, more and more doomsday posts appeared online.
After scrolling through them for a while and finding no reliable information, Ethan turned off his computer.
He went to the kitchen, scooped a small portion of rice into the rice cooker, then skillfully cut two potatoes, steamed them, mashed them, and added seasonings.
Before long, a bowl of Potato-Rice Porridge was Ready.
Watching the neon lights flickering outside his window, he quickly finished his meal.
He washed the dishes, took a shower, and at 11 o'clock, he jumped into bed right on schedule.
He usually went to sleep at this time.
But tonight, the occasional police sirens outside, the shouting from downstairs, and the cheering from upstairs, sounds he was normally accustomed to, seemed unusually jarring.
[Countdown: 59:30]
...
[Countdown: 29:30]
...
[Countdown: 3:00]
In the final three minutes, Ethan finally couldn't resist. He suddenly got up, rushed to the small adjacent room, grabbed a sharpened knife, and put on his winter down jacket. Despite how bulky it was, he layered on two more.
[Countdown: 1:00]
What else? Even the usually calm Ethan was a bit frantic now.
He grabbed a bag of breakfast bread.
[Countdown: 0:30]
His phone, yes, he needed to take his phone too.
He hurriedly returned to his bedside and stuffed the phone into his pocket.
[Countdown: 0:00]
"Come on, let me see what this game is all about."
In that moment, everything seemed to freeze.
The world around him began to blur, and the countdown numbers in front of him dissipated like smoke.
Then, a crisp notif i cation sound rang out, piercing through the silence.
"Ding!"
"Azure Star Cardmaster Realm officially activated!"
As soon as the voice faded, Ethan's vision suddenly went completely white. The knife in his hand vanished, and the bread in his arms disappeared as well.
This place seemed to have no direction, only endless whiteness.
Soon, a transparent panel appeared in his fi eld of vision, glowing with a soft light.
[Name: Ethan Drake]
[Level: None]
[Strength: 0.83]
[Constitution: 0.91]
[Agility: 1.02]
[Spirit: 3.45]
[Aether: 0]
[Soul Card: None]
[Card Slots: (Empty) (Empty) (Empty)]
[Inventory: None]
At the bottom was a prompt — "Would you like to begin awakening your Soul Card?"
Ethan first memorized all the information on the panel, then selected "Yes."
"Beginning Soul Card extraction"
After this prompt appeared, Ethan suddenly felt an excruciating headache, but his body couldn't move.
Then he witnessed a strange sight.
A beam of light floated out from between his eyebrows and hovered in front of him.
When the light faded, Ethan's eyes widened in shock.
A thick Mythic Codex appeared before him.
This thing... wasn't it the very object that had caused his dimensional travel?
Then the Mythic Codex visibly began to shrink and thin out.
Finally, it condensed into a thin card.
A notification sound followed.
"Congratulations, you have awakened your Soul Card."
"Mythic Codex!"