The Legendary Fool

[Name: Thomas Lowe.

Age: 18

Soul Card: The Fool [Level 1]

Statistics:

Physical: 4

Mental: 9

Proprioception: 5

Soul Power: 16/31 [35]

Deck Cards:

1. The Flame [Common]: Level 3

Ability:

Ember Level 3 [1025/1500]: Release a small, concentrated burst of hot flames that drain 1 SP for every fourty seconds of continuous use. [Level 3 reward- Range has been increased by 1 meter. Ember lasts for five additional seconds for every 1 SP spent].

2. Water Propulsion [Common]: Level 1

Ability:

Torrent Level 1 [0/100]: Release a linear, compressed torrent of water that drains 1 SP for every fired shot.

3. Earth’s Vitality [Common]: Level 3

Ability:

Heal Level 3 [565/1500]: Absorb the Earth’s vitality to cast a protective halo around you that continuously heals minor wounds and staunches bleeding. Drains 1SP/minute. Requires continuous contact with an earthen surface. [Level 3 reward- Increases rate of blood clotting and muscle regeneration by +20%]

4. The Shadow [Common]: Level 1

Ability:

Shadow Cloak Level 1 [0/100]: Coalesces shadows around the wielder that muffles footsteps and reduces visibility, especially effective in low-light environments. Once inside the Shadow Cloak, allows the wielder to see perfectly in the darkness. Each Shadow Cloak costs 1SP to form and lasts for 1 hour.]

Tom hadn’t quite expected that the experience from the [Elfinclaw] would be enough to propel two of his cards to Level 3. It seemed that despite his approximations, the experience at higher levels increased at a far sharper gradient than he’d anticipated.

That was both good and bad, for Tom shuddered to imagine just how many of its fellow monsters the [Elfinclaw] had assassinated, and just how close he’d come to becoming one of its hapless victims.

[A Common Elfinclaw Bone Shield has been deposited in your inventory].

[Elfinclaw Beast Meat x3 has been deposited in your inventory.]

The [Elfinclaw] beast’s carcass begun to deflate, like Tom had seen happen with each kill so far.

“Oh no you don’t,” Tom snarled under his breath, a glimmer of fury flickering in his eyes.

This time he felt no self-reproach gnawing at his consciousness, no moral quandary eating away at his psyche as he yanked the corpse away from the ground waiting to swallow it. Tom waited for a warning, some form of retaliation, but none came— the [Divine System] didn’t seem to care.

That was good.

Thomas Lowe towered over the deflated corpse, forcing himself to look upon his handiwork instead of averting his gaze.

His [Ankra Bone Dagger] glimmered under the sunlight and then Tom began to gut the beast. His shirt was on the verge of falling apart and he wasn’t sure how cold nightfall would be. Purple blood sprayed over his already bloodied shirt, the smell emanating from the carcass far less unpleasant than the [Ankra Beast] had been, an almost sickly sweet smell wafting in the air as he finally finished cutting out a rectangular piece of hide that was almost completely dyed in blood.

Sighing, Tom wrung it out a few times before tossing it inside his [Inventory].

He’d dry it out later, maybe even give it a wash with his [Water Propulsion] card.

Giving one final glance at the carnage the fight had wreaked, the bloodied puddle and chunks of discarded hide the only thing remaining of the [Elfinclaw], Tom didn’t know how to feel.

Even now, he expected his mind to rebel against him, to pit himself against a tide of guilt he couldn’t overcome but…. Tom realized that he’d begun to adapt to the situation.

This was his reality now.

That should be disheartening. It had been disheartening merely a few minutes ago.

But Tom…. had never felt this powerful in his life.

If he just kept going….

He could do something.

Become someone.

Even now, instead of wallowing in despair like he would normally do, Tom was prioritizing his next move. Over half his SP was gone, and whilst Tom was almost certain it would recover in time, the same way one’s stamina recovered after a good rest, he didn’t know how long it would take.

Before Tom had felt alone. Isolated. Confused.

Now though, when he looked down at the four [Deck Cards] held in his left hand, he realized that his role had shifted.

From the prey to the predator.

He knew what his next move was.

He needed to get [The Fool] card to a higher level. But he couldn’t overlook the [Deck Cards] that had contributed to his survival.

“Shadow Cloak,” Tom muttered, watching as thick shadows begun to coalesce and wrap around him, continuously swirling and shifting as they bent the light around him. His sclera began to glow with a black sheen as he saw past the obscurement, his gaze shining with both clarity of purpose and mind.

A minute later Tom was gone, leaving behind only the signs of a struggle. He was now concealed amongst the shadows of the thick forest,

Waiting. Watching. Seeking.

It was time to fight back.