Morning haze still clung to the peaks of the distant ranges as Rai returned to the training field. His body ached from the spar with Rintarou, but it was the chakra burn that had truly taken its toll. Even after hours of rest, he felt hollow. Fragile.
He stood in the center of the grass clearing, alone, staring at his floating Reliquary interface. The usual glow of his five-card spread shimmered faintly, but today he had something different in mind.
"Condensed Card Draw," he whispered.
The Reliquary shimmered in response.
> [Condensed Card Draw initiated. Filtering based on synergy... Draw complete.]
A new card hovered in the air before him, edges glowing softly.
Banner of Courage — A continuous spell.
> While this card is active, all summoned monsters gain 200 ATK. The effect persists as long as chakra is supplied. Minimal upkeep required.
Rai blinked. It wasn't a massive upgrade, but it was something. An ongoing enhancement—one he could channel into his creatures.
He rolled his shoulders and took a breath.
"Reliquary," he said aloud, voice low. "Are there any cards or functions that can increase my chakra capacity?"
> [Query Accepted.]
No cards currently available.
Chakra expansion possible through external methods:
Repetitive chakra usage and flow control
Sustained physical training
Meditation and spiritual balance
Direct system resonance via Reliquary integration
Future spell or artifact cards may offer augmentation. Continue Reliquary progression for further options.
So, no shortcut. Not yet.
He sighed.
The system wasn't wrong. That battle had highlighted his flaw:
It wasn't control.
It wasn't tactics.
It was sustainability.
His battlefield instincts had been sharp. He had adapted, pressed advantages, and even temporarily grounded a Chūnin.
But it hadn't lasted.
His monsters required too much chakra. They were effective, yes, but for fleeting moments. And even then, their attack power only reached so far. Masked Dragon, even empowered by Rush Recklessly, hadn't been enough to push through decisively.
He needed more chakra.
He needed stronger summons.
He needed a longer game.
Rai turned toward the edge of the field where Kaida stood, watching.
She crossed her arms as he approached. "How'd it feel?"
He gave a tired smile. "Like I ran a full mission on fumes."
Kaida smirked. "Good. That means you're growing. You're hitting your limit. Now you know where it is."
Rai nodded. "But if I don't expand that limit, I won't keep up."
She tilted her head. "Then start pushing it. One day at a time."
He looked back toward the Reliquary.
One day at a time.
His deck was growing.
His understanding deepening.
He couldn't rush greatness—but he could stack the deck in his favor.