John remained frozen beside the window, his eyes fixed on the mysterious figure standing beneath the dim streetlight across the road.
The figure didn't move.
A dark hoodie concealed their face, its shadow swallowing every identifiable feature. The weak streetlight behind them only made them appear more like a silhouette than a person.
John couldn't tell whether it was a man or a woman.
All he knew was that they were watching him.
His heartbeat grew louder with each passing second.
Instinctively, he slipped a hand into his pocket and tightened his grip around his black card.
The card felt unusually warm.
As if it, too, had recognized the presence outside.
John slowly pulled it out, keeping his eyes locked on the stranger. A faint blue glow spread across the edges of the card, illuminating his fingers.
The hooded figure responded.
A blue light flickered from the card held in their own hand.
John's breathing became uneven.
"So... they've been following me?"
The thought struck him like lightning.
"Since the fashion show... Were they watching us the entire afternoon? Did they see Emily? If they wanted to kill me, why didn't they attack then? Why wait until now?"
Countless questions flooded his mind, yet none had an answer.
The figure slowly raised their glowing card.
John's instincts took over.
A translucent blue interface materialized before his eyes as he opened his card system.
Without hesitation, he summoned his main card, preparing himself for another battle.
His muscles tensed.
Every nerve in his body screamed for him to move first.
But before either of them could act...
The hooded figure suddenly stepped backward.
Their body dissolved into the darkness beyond the streetlight.
Gone.
The next instant—
BOOM!
A deafening impact echoed through the neighborhood.
The ground trembled violently beneath John's feet.
Car alarms erupted all along the street.
Dogs barked wildly.
Lights flickered on inside nearby houses as sleepy neighbors rushed to their windows, believing thieves or an accident had disturbed the peaceful night.
John remained standing beside the window, completely stunned.
"What... just happened?" he whispered.
He searched every corner outside, but the mysterious figure had disappeared without leaving a trace.
His mind struggled to process what he had just witnessed.
Before he could think any further—
Bang!
His bedroom door flew open.
John reacted instantly.
Without looking, he grabbed the nearest object—a pillow—and hurled it toward the doorway with surprising force.
"Take this!"
"AAH!"
The pillow flew straight toward Emily's face.
Fortunately, years of martial arts training kicked in.
She quickly ducked, letting the pillow sail harmlessly over her head before crashing into the wall behind her.
Emily stared at him in disbelief.
"Dumbo!" she shouted. "Are you seriously trying to assassinate me with a pillow?"
John blinked.
"...Emily?"
"Who else would it be?"
She marched into the room with an exaggerated glare.
"I know I tease you a lot, but throwing pillows now? That's a new low."
John scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"I... thought someone broke into the house."
Emily folded her arms.
"So you think I'm a thief now?"
"No... not you."
He stopped halfway through his sentence.
His expression suddenly became serious again.
Emily noticed the change immediately.
Her teasing smile disappeared.
"Hey..." she said softly. "Are you okay?"
John looked toward the window.
"I'm fine."
Emily followed his gaze before shrugging.
"Did you hear that loud noise outside? Maybe someone tried stealing a car and crashed into something."
"Maybe."
John forced a smile.
"Don't worry. Everything's okay."
Emily raised an eyebrow.
"You sound like you're trying to convince yourself."
John chuckled quietly.
"If anything ever happens..."
He looked at her with determination.
"I'll protect you."
Emily immediately smirked.
"Oh really?"
She flexed one arm dramatically.
"Don't forget who's the black belt between us."
John laughed.
"Right... I forgot."
"You should."
"So, are you planning to demonstrate your kicks at two in the morning?"
Emily rolled her eyes.
"As if."
She smiled warmly.
"I just came because I was worried about you."
John remained silent.
"I had a feeling you'd be scared after yesterday."
"...Maybe you were right."
Emily smiled proudly.
"I knew it."
She walked toward the door before looking back one last time.
"Try getting some sleep, okay?"
"I will."
"And stop throwing pillows at innocent people."
"No promises."
Emily laughed before leaving the room.
Silence returned once again.
John reopened his system.
Two cards rested quietly inside his inventory.
The glowing interface reflected in his tired eyes.
He stared at them for a long time.
"If I want to keep my family safe..."
"Then I have to become stronger."
That thought lingered in his mind until exhaustion finally pulled him into sleep.
The following morning was far less peaceful.
John's alarm blared relentlessly.
His eyes shot open.
He glanced at the clock.
"...I'm late!"
Within minutes he had changed his clothes, brushed his teeth, grabbed his bag, and rushed outside.
Luckily, someone was already waiting.
Lucas stood beside two bicycles with a large stack of delivery parcels loaded onto one of them.
"There you are," Lucas said with a grin. "I picked up your parcels before the manager started yelling."
John sighed in relief.
"Lucas... you seriously saved my life."
Lucas laughed.
"Don't thank me yet."
John narrowed his eyes.
"What do you want?"
"You're covering my overtime next weekend."
John groaned dramatically.
"I knew this wasn't free."
They both laughed before climbing onto their bicycles.
Since their delivery routes shared the same road for several kilometers, they rode together.
The conversation soon shifted toward yesterday's strange incident near the college.
"You really think someone was following us?" Lucas asked.
John hesitated.
"...Maybe."
"I've never seen the police block off a road that quickly."
"Neither have I."
Lucas shivered.
"The whole thing gives me a bad feeling."
John simply nodded.
"So stay careful."
"You too."
Eventually the road split into two different directions.
Lucas waved before turning left.
"See you tonight!"
"Take care."
John continued alone, spending the next several hours delivering packages across the city.
By late afternoon, his work was finished much earlier than expected.
Instead of heading home, he changed direction.
His bicycle stopped in front of an abandoned junkyard on the outskirts of town.
Rusted cars lay scattered everywhere.
Twisted metal towers cast long shadows beneath the setting sun.
The place was completely deserted.
Perfect.
John looked around one last time before summoning his system.
The familiar blue interface shimmered into existence.
He took out his black card.
A surge of energy spread through his hand.
Closing his eyes, he tried to focus.
The system had clearly stated that cards drew their power from emotions.
But controlling emotions...
That was far more difficult than he had imagined.
He attempted to recreate the fear he had felt during yesterday's battle.
Nothing happened.
He tried recalling his determination to protect Emily.
The card glowed faintly before fading again.
"Damn..."
Sweat rolled down his forehead.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Hour after hour, John repeated the same exercises.
He also attempted to activate the other cards stored inside his inventory.
Each attempt ended the same way.
Access Denied.
Requirements Not Met.
He clicked his tongue.
"So they're still locked..."
That meant his main card was his only weapon for now.
As the sun disappeared beyond the horizon, John continued training alone among the rusted wrecks.
Every failed attempt strengthened one realization.
If stronger enemies were already searching for him...
Then simply surviving would no longer be enough.
He had to master the power of the cards before the next card holder found him.
Because next time...
Luck might not save him.
