Okay, I’m finally going to decide what Destiny Cards to scrap out of everything I have, so I can safely draw one more card without dying.

I am down to [1,756/15,000 LP.] Not good by any stretch of the imagination, I’m sure.

But the limit for drawing a new Destiny Card in sacrificial Life Points is between 500 and 1500, at least at D-Rank. Higher ranks increase that range, but for now, at least for a few seconds, I can endure the maximum damage and still get one extra card.

I really want that [Clone] card that I saw with [Foresight] earlier today...

Actually knowing all the Destiny Cards you are going to draw ahead of time is a bit boring. It’s almost flat-out dull in a way. Aside from the fact that it’s incredibly useful for planning out strategy, I almost regret doing it. Because there is sadly only one card that I will ever be drawing with this next one.

Anyway, as for my current hand, which is full at the moment:

Super Hearing: Rank 1. Increase sonic perception abilities dramatically for five minutes. Cost: 70 LP.

Blinding Rush: Rank 1. Doubles speed and agility. Cost: 215 LP.

Skill Check: Rank 1. Examine the variables around you. (There is a small chance that your next action will go exceedingly well or exceedingly poorly.) Cost: 50 LP.

Inventory Slot: Rank 4. Store an item here to retrieve for future use. Current item: Satchel (Size: Extra Large).

Inventory Slot: Rank 4. Store an item here to retrieve for future use. Current item: Pistol.

Inventory Slot: Rank 4. Store an item here to retrieve for future use. Current item: Bow and arrow.

Transmigrated Spirit: Rank 3. Summon an otherworldly spirit to assist for five minutes. Cost: 444 LP.

I have to scrap one of these cards. Just one. I could use one, too, I guess, but that costs Life Points, something I am dangerously low on at the moment, obviously.

For the maximum amount of Destiny Points, obviously aside from the inventory slots which I absolutely will not sacrifice for any reason, is [Transmigrated Spirit.] Scrapping the [Transmigrated Spirit] card, since it is a rank 3 card and scrapping gives half the rank back in Destiny Points (rounding down), would give me a total of 2 new Destiny Points.

However...

I kind of like [Transmigrated Spirit.] The spirit you get is determined by a great many obscure and confusing factors, but overall it is a great way to mess up a combatant and even get a fatal blow in if the spirit is powerful enough. If you are lonely, the spirits are usually good to chat with as well.

Not that I would ever be lonely with my dear companions Francis and Delta by my side, but still...

Instead, there is only one logical card for me to scrap. It is one that I have held in my reserve for a very long time, but have been unable to use this entire time.

Yes, I am referring to:

Super Hearing: Rank 1. Increase sonic perception abilities dramatically for five minutes. Cost: 70 LP.

What a poor card. It is so useful, the Life Point cost is fairly low, but... I just never found a use for it.

I pull the card over on my HUD to the Destiny Deck itself, where I drop it in the swirling vortex and it crumbles into ash.

Ding!

[+1 DP.]

[66 DP.]

At least rank 1 cards still give 1 Destiny Point, instead of half a point or something ridiculous.

Now I can draw my final card with Life Points.

Here it does—

Ouch!

[-1337 LP.]

[417/15,000 LP.]

That is the lowest I have ever been in my entire life with Life Points. I feel like my life force is draining from me even as I merely look at it... Augh...

Well, here’s my new card, at least...

Skill Check: Rank 1. Examine the variables around you. (There is a small chance that your next action will go exceedingly well or exceedingly poorly.) Cost: 50 LP.

I will admit that, even when I knew exactly what card was coming with all of this, I am still incredibly disappointed to be so near literal death and to have drawn such a generic and boring card.

But now I’m only one card away from drawing [Clone.] I can’t wait to use that someday!

My physical state must be deteriorating rapidly, because Francis has grabbed me by both my shoulders now.

“Eryk! Eryk, are you okay? Talk to me buddy!”

“The idiot actually drew another Destiny Card, didn’t he?” Delta asks.

“Don’t... Worry about me...” I mutter.

I say this like I’m in serious danger, and technically I am, but I have 66 Destiny Points right now. That’s over halfway to a third level-up—I’m nearly invincible right now!

I use 25 Destiny Points. They drain out of me and surround my spirit like a sparkling aura.

[-25 DP.]

Kabam!

I start to sparkle more brightly than even the glitter on those costumed women from the fight club.

Francis is dumbfounded. “Eryk...”

“Don’t worry; this takes a few seconds,” I tell them.

LEVEL UP!

I am now a Level 18 [Adventurer,] at D-Rank. And let’s see what stat bonuses I’ve gained:

Strength

20 (+4)

Speed

5

Agility

6 (+1)

Wisdom

5

Defense

12 (+1)

Charm

21

Viscosity

2

Deftness

16

Charisma

6 (+2)

Manners

18

Power

49 (+3)

Sturdiness

0

Wow, that’s pretty impressive stuff!

It took a long time for me to level up, but here it is. One step closer to reaching my ultimate goal.

[+15,000 LP.]

I am also fully restored as well.

I hop up on the bench and do a little dance. It’s called my “I leveled up and am now extremely happy about it” dance. I do it every time I go up a level, but this is the first time I’ve done it on Earth!

“You did it!” Francis shouts. “You actually did it!”

“Yes, I did it,” I say. “I am now level 18, which means I am a mere fifty Destiny Points away from leveling up enough to increase my rank to C-Rank!”

“Wait a minute,” Francis says. “This calls for a celebration.”

“A celebration?” Delta raises her eyebrow. “Don’t you think the Persian mob is probably actively looking for us like, right this instant? Shouldn’t we get the hell out of here?”

“No way!” Francis shouts. “I know a place where we’ll be safe. Somewhere literally nobody will ever think to look.”

I stop dancing. “Oh? Where might that be?” I ask.

“An indie pop-punk show.”