My Deck Is Made Up Of OP Anime Characters

Faced with Harold's question, Azrael had another concern that had weighed on his mind since his arrival at the University.

"Speaking of which, how do we obtain new materials for card creation during our studies?" he asked, voicing what seemed to be a fundamental limitation. "If Lore Cardians can't acquire new cards, that means we can't improve our strength."

The idea that everyone was still using Bronze level cards at Silver level seemed absurd. Professional Lore Cardians who had already entered the workforce could gather materials through secret realm explorations, but students like them had no such options. Buying materials with money wasn't realistic either, given the astronomical cost.

Harold's face brightened as he explained, "Our freshman and sophomore years include mandatory internships. It involves entering secret areas to perform cleanup operations."

"Cleanup operations?" Azrael raised an eyebrow, unfamiliar with the terminology.

"The Association systematically explores new secret realms," Harold explained. "After they've roughly eliminated the major threats, we do the final cleanup. It's a bit dangerous, but nowhere near as dangerous as full exploration missions. Perfect training for students like us."

He paused and added thoughtfully, "It also helps us prepare for our future careers in advance."

Azrael's expression darkened as the realization hit him. So there really was something wrong with that secret realm mission Lian gave us.

He'd long suspected that their previous mission to the [Black Flag] secret realm had been far too dangerous for students. Now that he understood that freshmen and sophomores usually started out with cleanup work, while their mission had been a direct exploration mission, his suspicion was confirmed. Combined with Lian's identity as an operative of the Crimson Oath Society, the pieces fell into place with disturbing clarity.

Pushing these troubling thoughts aside, Azrael focused on the present. "Then take me to that Battle Club."

Since they only had a practical class that morning, their afternoon was free.

The Battle Club's headquarters were located in a building adjacent to the Card Making Department's main teaching complex. Given their name and purpose, battles were inevitable, so the club often used the mountain forests adjacent to the academic buildings for their combat training.

The current students had already reached Bronze or even Silver level, so their destructive potential was considerable. Proper facilities were essential.

On only their second day of classes, few students were present at the Battle Club. Harold led Azrael directly to the teacher's office, his status as an official member granting them immediate access.

"Teacher Chisaki, I have a classmate who wants to join the Battle Club," Harold announced to the bald, middle-aged man who appeared to be taking an unauthorized break at his desk.

Chisaki, the instructor in question, looked up in surprise. "Is there anyone in our department who hasn't joined the Battle Club yet?" He scratched his head in confusion. "Or is this student from another department?"

After all, the Card Making Department taught both card making and martial arts. As a rule, every student in their program joined the Battle Club upon enrollment.

Before Harold could begin to explain, Azrael stepped forward. "Teacher Chisaki, I am Azrael."

Recognition immediately dawned in Chisaki's eyes. "Ah, you are Master Lucian's new student, aren't you? I should have guessed." He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a standard form. "Just fill this out."

Watching this exchange, Harold mentally grumbled, "I'm not jealous. Definitely not envious.

When he'd joined the Battle Club, he'd had to pass several tests, simple ones for students of the Card Making Department, but tests nonetheless. Now, all Azrael had to do was provide his name for immediate acceptance.

After quickly filling out the basic information form, Azrael looked up at Chisaki with determined eyes. "Teacher Chisaki, I want to be a main team member."

During their walk over, Harold had explained that the Battle Club maintained five main members who would represent the university in the national competition every June. These positions weren't fixed, so anyone could challenge a current member and claim their spot by winning before the roster was finalized.

Teacher Chisaki's expression became uncomfortable. "Well, all the main member positions are currently filled, and I can't arbitrarily change personnel assignments..."

He clearly assumed that Azrael was trying to use his connection to Master Lucian to get preferential treatment.

Harold, who was standing nearby, tugged at Azrael's sleeve and whispered urgently, "Azrael, all five main members are silver level sophomores.

The next moment, Azrael's calm voice broke the tension in the office.

"I'm also a silver level Lore Cardian."

"Wait, did you hear? Someone from the Battle Club wants to challenge the main members!"

"Challenges happen regularly, right?"

"What if I told you the challenger was a freshman?"

"What?"

Hurried footsteps echoed through the corridors of the Cardmaking Department's classroom building as news spread like wildfire. The revelation that Azrael, a freshman, intended to challenge the core team members had captured everyone's attention.

Back in the Battle Club office, Harold stared at Azrael with barely contained disbelief. "Azrael, you're actually a silver level Lore Cardian?"

His shock was completely understandable. Of this year's freshman class in the Card Making Department of Pixar University, not a single student had reached the silver level. More importantly, he hadn't forgotten that Azrael was an early admission, which meant he was actually a year younger than his supposed peers.

Azrael nodded casually. "I was lucky enough to break through recently."

"But do you have a silver level card?" Harold pressed, still struggling to process this revelation.

Azrael gave him a puzzled look. "If not, how would I dare challenge the main members?"

Harold fell silent, completely outmaneuvered by logic.

By now, the Battle Club had filled with spectators eager to witness this unprecedented event. Students from the card-making department mingled with curious onlookers from other programs, all drawn by the prospect of seeing a newcomer take on the established hierarchy.

"Here comes Kevaugn," Harold whispered, nodding to a short-haired young man entering the club. "He's a sophomore."

Kevaugn seemed equally confused by the situation. When he'd first received the message from Teacher Chisaki, he'd assumed it was some kind of elaborate joke. Only after repeated confirmations had he accepted that a freshman had indeed broken through to the silver level and issued a formal challenge.

This kid is still too green, Kevaugn thought with growing confidence. Let me teach this junior what it means that there are levels within the silver level itself.

His caution had largely disappeared. After all, he'd been at the silver level for a long time, while this newcomer was probably a recent breakthrough.

Seeing the two fighters present, Teacher Chisaki addressed them formally. "Now that everyone is here, let's go to the mountain."

Two silver-level Lore Cardians couldn't possibly conduct their battle in an indoor venue. The potential for collateral damage was simply too great.

The massive crowd moved in procession toward the mountaintop, anticipation building with each step.

At the top, Azrael and Kevaugn took up positions opposite each other, the assembled crowd forming a wide circle around the designated fighting area. The afternoon sun cast long shadows over the rocky terrain, while a cool breeze carried the scent of pine from the surrounding forest.

"I won't bother explaining the standard Lore Cardian dueling rules," Teacher Chisaki announced, his voice carrying clearly over the mountaintop. "Both contestants should be familiar with the protocols."

He raised his hand, the tension building as both fighters prepared their opening moves. "Azrael versus Kevaugn, begin!"

The moment Chisaki's hand fell, four figures materialized in front of Azrael with precise timing. Nami appeared with her Clima-Tact at the ready, Luffy's rubber frame radiated contained energy, Yoriichi's hand casually rested on the hilt of his Zanpakutō, and Unohana Retsu stood with deceptive calm, her gentle smile hiding deeper dangers.

This was Azrael's first battle against a silver-level Lore Cardian, and he had no intention of holding back or underestimating his opponent.

"Black iron? Bronze? You think you can challenge me with a single silver-level card?" Kevaugn sneered as his trained senses analyzed the spiritual pressure emanating from Azrael's summoned beings.

The watching students muttered among themselves, many sharing Kevaugn's assessment. It was common knowledge that raw numbers meant little in the face of superior quality, a lesson every Lore Cardian learned early in their training.

But those with sharper perceptions noticed something troubling in the air. The spiritual pressure emanating from Azrael's cards seemed... denser than expected. More complex. As if each entity contained depths that could not be measured by conventional analysis.

Kevaugn's confidence remained unshaken as he began his own summoning sequence. "Let me show you the difference between a real silver level fighter and someone playing with toys!"

His three cards materialized with practiced efficiency: a towering Stone Golem that immediately began drawing earth energy from the mountain itself, a swift Wind Eagle that soared into the air with piercing screams, and a humanoid Lightning Warrior that crackled with electrical power.

The crowd gasped at the impressive display. Kevaugn's cards were clearly all silver level with substantial quality ratings, their coordinated presence creating an aura of tactical sophistication that spoke of months of careful development and training.

"Now you'll understand why freshmen shouldn't challenge seniors," Kevaugn declared, his voice carrying over the mountaintop with the utmost confidence.

What he failed to notice was the subtle change in Azrael's expression, not one of concern or intimidation, but the quiet satisfaction of someone whose expectations were perfectly met.

This should provide ample data on Silver level combat standards, Azrael mused, his analytical mind already calculating optimal approaches for each of Kevaugn's cards.

The real battle was about to begin, and despite the apparent disadvantage, Azrael felt nothing but anticipation for what promised to be an instructive encounter.

After all, there were levels within the Silver Level itself, something Kevaugn was about to discover firsthand.