This new panel was bigger than anything that had come before.

It appeared in the usual fashion, growing gradually from the golden glow of light into an actual interface pane. However, it seemed to have a more elaborate design than the ones he had seen previously. The borders were layered with dense engravings in a specific pattern, giving a distinct impression of a careful layout and intentional design. The soft golden light that bathed the area seemed to give the whole space a warm, comfortable aura.

He scanned the entire screen from the top to the bottom.

[✦ GOD-TIER CARD SYSTEM ✦]

[Name: Ash Vulkan]

[Title: Card Bearer] 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

[Level: 1]

[HP: 200 / 200]

[MP: 80 / 80]

[EXP: 0 / 100]

[SP: 0]

[✦ STATS ✦]

[STR: 10 INT: 10

DEF: 10 AGI: 10]

[✦ ACTIVE HAND ✦]

[01 / 54 Cards]

[♥ 2 of Heart (Ember Shot) - Lv.1

Fires a single ball of fire at a target.]

[★Jokers★- 2 Cards (LOCKED)]

[✦ SKILLS ✦]

[None]

[✦ QUEST ✦]

[★Unique Quest★: SAVE THE WORLD]

He studied the data, trying to digest it bit by bit as he would try with any difficult problem at work. First came the names, the first piece of data that stuck out immediately.

"Why is my name different?"

As usual, the interface remained silent, offering no further explanations or hints. Not Ethan, Ash... Vulkan. His eyes narrowed as he mulled over the new information.

He thought about the old man for a second.

’He really did whatever he wanted, didn’t he?’

"Ethan... Ah, Ash." He shook his head and took a deep breath.

"Alright, Ash Vulkan, then."

The name was going to take a while to get used to, but so would many other things in this world, including the two suns in the sky and his new body. In a world where everything was changing around him, perhaps it wasn’t worth clinging onto his old name anymore.

Next came the level.

Level one.

That was a rather sobering revelation. As a reincarnated guy, he hoped that he wouldn’t be expected to start with zero experience in this world. But it appeared that was the case. Along with ten points across all stats and zero SP.

’So much for being overpowered from the start.’

There was no resentment there, just the resigned understanding of someone whose expectation had been adjusted in real-time. He needed to save this world. He was going to do that at level one, with ten points across all categories, no skills, and one card.

He shifted his focus to the EXP bar. Zero out of one hundred. That was pretty much self-explanatory. He remembered that the novels were very consistent in at least explaining the basics. The experience gained would allow levels to climb, and levels could increase stats. SP... Stat points, definitely. The points he would allocate once he had the chance to increase any stat he wished.

Thus, the general idea was simple.

Start small. Accumulate. Survive.

With that in mind, he examined the Active Hand section.

[01 / 54 Cards]

One card out of fifty-four available. He recalled the old man’s words. "A unique magical system, one that is unknown to that world." He glanced at his current card and the two locked jokers.

[♥ 2 of Heart (Ember Shot) - Lv.1

Fires a single ball of fire at a target.]

Simple, concise, and straightforward. Nothing too fancy there, and there was no need for unnecessary details. However, he had absolutely no clue what the abilities of this card entailed, how much damage it could deal, how far its reach was, how much mana it required, and whether or not the other fifty-three cards would be similar.

’How do I even use it?’

The interface was unlikely to guide him through every step he would have to take. He closed his eyes and raised his hand.

He concentrated on the card.

Something moved in his hand.

He opened his eyes and examined his palm.

It was there.

Pressed between his index finger and middle finger was a card unlike anything he had seen before. It was golden, the same colour as the interface, with the same detailed pattern engraved on its border. Instead of displaying the usual symbols of the heart in the middle, it depicted a sigil, an image of a flame. It was perfect, etched precisely into the golden surface.

The ♥ 2 of Heart.

His card.

Ash lifted it up and rotated in the sunlight. The golden surface shimmered in response to the dual illumination. The card felt pleasantly warm, as though it was living and breathing. He scrutinized the object in silence for several seconds.

The wind blew through the tall grass.

High in the sky, the birds circled around each other.

"Alright," Ash whispered.

He looked down at the golden card he was holding. Then he focused his gaze ahead, towards the horizon, where the green grass stretched endlessly in every direction.

"Let’s see what you can do."