The Master of Cards Chapter 56: Downstream

Alex had panic in his eyes. The more he felt the terrifying urge of curiosity within himself, the more he felt afraid of whatever was inside. As the bizarre attribute continued to drill into his body and flow towards his inner world, Alex began slowly walking forward, while a part of him was trying to stop himself.

At that moment, the thread of the mysterious attribute entered the inner world and Alex lost control of his body as the mysterious attribute began to touch the statue within the inner world.

At that moment, the vortex card suddenly sprang into action. A terrifying suction force emanated within Alex's inner world. Even the mysterious energy attribute could not escape from that suction force and unwillingly entered the vortex card.

The vortex card was like a hungry beast and voraciously consumed the thread of the attribute energy sucking in more and more, until the little hint that flowed through the river had completely entered Alex's inner world and into the vortex card.

The vortex card digested the energy amd began glowing and suddenly a new card was formed. The card was then vomited out of the inner world and the vortex card once again went dormant.

Alex saw a card formulate in his hand and a shocking announcement from the Card Dimension.

[You killed 1 Supreme Curiosity Being. You obtained x1 single use Rank 2 Card - Curiosity]

Alex was shocked. That mysterious energy attribute was actually a monster. And the monster's classification was actually a Supreme type! Alex immediately connected some of the dots.

Ordinary, Primitive and Mutant monsters seemed to be equivalent to the first rank card holders, while Supreme monster seems to be the peak of rank 2 equivalents.

Alex also learned some new information. The attribute of the card in his hand, was just like the name of the card, the Curiosity attribute. It was an A grade card as well. This was probably the most powerful single use card in the First Card Dimension.

Alex also wondered what exactly was the Vortex Card. It managed to kill the energy beast... perhaps the vortex card is the nemesis of creatures made purely of energy.

Alex finally lost the intense desire to go forward, but now he suspected whether he should proceed. He guessed that the Negima group proceeded despite being unprepared probably due to this beast, however, was the craziness also caused by the beast or the blood?

However, he thought of the vortex card within him and felt some reassurance. Although he was risk averse when he saw a clear dead end, but now he felt that may be going ahead might bring him tangible benefits.

Alex considered the pros and cons, and eventually decided to brave ahead amd at least investigate what lay ahead. As he walked forward, he found a bizarre sight in front of him.

The water that was flowing downwards suddenly had a sharp perpendicular bend and began flowing upwards like a backwards waterfall. When Alex walked close to the waterfall that fell upwards, the column of water split apart, revealing an iron door with complicated engravings and symbols and markings.

Alex quickly took out a piece of paper and began sketching all the engravings. They were extremely complicated and detailed, and Alex took quite a while to pen down everything with accuracy. In times like this, he praised himself for being obsessed with painting and drawing as a kid on his original Earth.

Then Alex touched the door and it opened without any obstructions in the middle. The door split midway, opening to lead into a chamber. The chamber seemed to be empty. With the exception of a drop of blood, mystically floating in the center of the room.

The drop of blood was indeed as described, it looked extremely terrifying. Through his Energy Affinity, Alex determined the blood to, with no surprise belong to the blood attribute.

Blood Attribute, this attribute brought about some bitter memories for Alex. The Scarlet Tide and Luke descending into complete craziness. Alex realized that perhaps, that craziness was an inherent side effect of this attribute. Whether it was Luke, or it was the Negima group who ended up biting each other to death like rabid animals.

However, as Alex stood now, he didn't feel any hint of craziness within himself. However, he could see signs of skirmishes within the room itself and came to some conclusions.

The Curiosity Being played the role of attracting people to this drop of blood by gripping the victim's curiosity of the unknown. The Negima group then unwittingly touched the drop of blood, perhaps gaining the craziness as a result and ended up killing each other.

Alex looked around the room and found nothing but the drop of blood, shook his head and decided to leave. Blood Attribute, he couldn't stand it.

He turned back and began walking away, when the an ominous voice spilled within the room.

"Come, come and touch me. Absorb me to gain the power of slaughter and become the strongest of card masters!"

Alex stopped, horrified. He turned around to look around the room, but found nothing else. With shock, he turned towards the drop of blood.

"Yes, yes! It is I. Absorb me amd you can gain all the strength you need to fulfill your desires!"

Alex gulped. This terrifying drop of blood could speak. Which shocked and horrified him.

Alex hesitated, but eventually decided to speak up. "Do you think I did not see the trail of destruction you wrought ahead of me?"

"They were too weak to absorb me. They were overwhelmed by their true natures and self destructed. You, you are different! You resisted the Curiosity Beast! If it is you, you can do it!"

Alex had a glint within his eyes. "What exactly are you?"

"I am the Blood Attribute Energy!"

Alex laughed. "Do you think I am stupid? Can the Energy Attribute talk? Have a conscience?"

"...Absorb me..."

Alex laughed and turned to walk away. "Lying sack of sh*t!" He cursed at the blood drop. Whatever it was, it was definitely an intelligent entity.

However, as he tried to walk off, the door closed before him and the entire room began to turn red.

Chapter end