Chapter 20- More Power, And A PlayThing
The last few XP orbs rolled in like lazy fireflies, each one adding a sliver to Yuuta’s experience bar. Then, with a satisfying ding, the system chimed in:
[DING!]
[Congratulations: You have leveled up!]
[New Level: 5]
"Finally!" Yuuta groaned, slapping both of his dusty frog thighs. "Took you long enough, you stingy XP system!"
Still, he sighed in reluctant acceptance. As annoying as the slow grind was, it was better than digging through razor-edged rubble and bleeding out of every damn limb like before. He flexed his fingers, half-expecting blood to spurt out again. Luckily, regeneration had already patched him up nicely.
But before he could get too comfortable, the world around him stopped. Literally.
Everything turned grayscale, sound evaporated, and the air around him felt heavy with anticipation. Even the wind halted mid-gust, dust suspended like frozen sparks in the air. Yuuta’s wide frog eyes blinked once, then twice, before a slow, smug grin stretched across his face.
"Heh... here we fucking go."
With a satisfying hum, three small vortexes spiraled into existence in front of him, each twisting the space like ripples on a pond. And from within each one, a glowing card began to emerge, hovering like divine relics summoned from some cosmic gacha machine.
Yuuta rolled his shoulders and stretched his green arms high above his head. "Alright, let’s see what bullshit you’re gonna throw at me this time. Hopefully no more fucking duplicates."