Blame it on your bad luck for running into me.

This 'Summoner'-style Card Wielder becomes increasingly sought after at higher tiers.

There are many reasons why it isn’t the mainstream approach.

First, it heavily depends on the quality of the cards.

Low-tier cards summon characters whose combat prowess is, to put it mildly, underwhelming. Not only do they occupy a card slot, but they also require continuous soul force output within a certain range.

This leaves the Card Wielder themselves extremely vulnerable, making them an easy target for the classic "capture the leader first" strategy.

However, once card slots become plentiful and the wielder strengthens themselves adequately, a single slot can activate a character comparable to a martial artist or cultivator of the same tier. From there, it’s a matter of "two fists can’t fight four hands"—the glorious phase of ganging up on the enemy.

Second, unlike equipment cards that can be used immediately upon equipping, special character-type cards have an additional factor called "Card Affinity."

Simply obtaining a card doesn’t mean you can wield it at 100% efficiency.

For example, if the character on the card is a righteous hero but the wielder is a scheming villain, the card may reject them.

When such a Card Wielder attempts to summon it, they often enter a state of "Soul Isolation."

This is similar to forcibly wielding equipment beyond one’s tier.

A normal soul force circuit can’t be established, and faint chains may even appear on the card’s surface, making even basic activation nearly impossible. Forcing it could lead to soul sea tremors or even shattering.

In cases of milder ideological mismatch, the wielder must continuously expend extra soul force to sustain the card—like driving a car with a broken steering wheel, an accident waiting to happen.

Of course, there are positive outcomes too.

When the bond between wielder and card crosses a critical threshold, they enter a state of [Resonance].

At this point, the card is no longer just an external combatant but an extension of the wielder’s soul.

For instance, wind blades unleashed by a wind-aligned character might even pulse with the wielder’s breathing rhythm.

In this state, the wielder can activate the card’s [Origin Skill] with less soul force than usual.

This affinity can also be quantified:

0-9: [Soul Isolation]

10-30: [Card Overload]

31-70: [Normal]

71-90: [Soul Resonance]

91-100: [Unity of Will]

There’s even speculation that affinity might exceed 100.

If achieved, it would allow unconditional summoning at peak strength—ignoring soul force costs, slot requirements, and tier barriers.

The wielder might even inherit some of the card’s unique passives as permanent attributes.

This theory was proposed eight hundred years ago by an eleventh-tier powerhouse known as the [Paradox Devourer], who called it [True Self Awakening].

Yet in eight centuries, no one has proven it possible.

Thus, it remains the sole "paradox" proposed by this great researcher who spent his life debunking them.

As Lin Han silently mused, the ground beneath his feet rose by about half a meter.

"Both contestants, take your positions!"

Once the arena stabilized, the commentator's passionate voice rang out again.

"Arena tests are to be fought until one side concedes or the referee intervenes to end the match!"

"Prepare now!"

The moment the words faded, Lin Han flicked a card between his fingers—its surface shimmering with dark radiance, its aura restrained.

Its mere appearance drew every eye in the venue; the energy rippling from it far surpassed that of ordinary cards.

The stands erupted once more, gasps and discussions surging like waves.

Clearly, many recognized this card’s extraordinary nature.

Fortunately, the arena’s barrier muffled most of the noise, leaving the interior relatively quiet.

"You come from the Sixth Institute. Your family, your talent—none of it is top-tier."

Lin Han suddenly spoke, his voice carrying a cold, metallic edge.

"But I can tell you’ve worked hard. You’re full of hope for the future, trained relentlessly to reach this point."

Liu Yuan watched him calmly, offering no response.

He seemed to be talking to himself, yet every word felt like a death sentence for her.

"My apologies."

"You could’ve been this year’s dark horse among commoners."

"But your luck is just too terrible—running into me."

"I didn’t want it this way."

"But I have reasons I can’t afford to lose."

"So, this match? I’m taking it first."

His voice rose gradually, his expression near-fanatical as he gazed at the black card.

"What comes next..."

"Might teach you the true meaning of despair!"

"Let’s hope it doesn’t scar you too deeply."

Every syllable dripped with absolute confidence.

Before Liu Yuan could react, soul force ignited at his fingertips like a spark to a fuse.

With a soft crack, the black card shattered like glass, dissolving into swirling motes of darkness that cascaded forward.

Under the gaze of tens of thousands, those motes rapidly coalesced.

As the light faded, a towering figure—several meters tall, clad in ominous black—materialized at the arena’s center.

Its arrival dropped the ambient temperature by two degrees, a frigid, savage aura permeating the space.

Lin Han stared fervently at his summoned behemoth before turning a smoldering gaze toward Liu Yuan, lips quirking in smug triumph.

"You’ve probably never fought a Summoner-type Card Wielder before, have you? Don’t say I didn’t warn you."

"Surrender now, and it’s not too late."

"Or beg me nicely, and I might go easy—give you a chance to show off, save your ratings some dignity."

Liu Yuan ignored the taunts entirely.

Her focus had locked onto the newly summoned entity, analyzing its form and the energy rolling off it.

Nearly three meters tall, its sheer presence was oppressive.

Its battle-worn armor bore vast stains of dried crimson, evidence of countless slaughters.

A ridiculously long Tang Dao hung at its side, sheathed in antiquity, only the cloth-wrapped hilt visible.

Its hands, neck, even its face were wreathed in layers of dark, vengeful spirits, leaving only its eyes exposed—pupils like voids that devoured light itself.