CHAPTER 137: CLIMBING THE RANKS

After adapting to flying for a while, Carlotta landed on the ground and took out the "Compendium of Card Magic" to read.

She suddenly remembered something about card magic transcendents, that once they reached the Listener rank, they were all capable of mastering a skill known as card battle art.

This was a skill for effectively using cards, and anyone could learn it.

As card magic transcendents’ ranks increased, so did the number of cards they possessed. Not everyone had storage cards or spatial items to store cards, and carrying numerous cards on one’s person was naturally inconvenient.

Thus, card battle art emerged. This skill allows for the effective use of various cards, achieving an effect similar to storing cards within one’s body.

Although Carlotta already had a storage card, she didn’t mind learning card battle art. This was a skill every card magic transcendent possessed, and since card magic was her primary focus, she should know it.

After studying the book for a while, Carlotta understood.

"No wonder every card magic transcendent can master it; the learning threshold is really low."

A smile spread across Carlotta’s face.

She applied it slightly, and her own magic power permeated outwards, creating wondrous changes around her, forming rings of blue circles that orbited her.

She took out a flight card and placed it on the circles, where it was immediately fixed.

Then, with a thought, the numerous circles were drawn into her body, along with the flight card.

"Quite interesting."

Carlotta released the circles again, and the flight card was still on them. They act like shelves that could hold cards.

What cards were placed on the circles was entirely up to Carlotta; she could also choose not to go anywhere.

Since the storage card could already be stored within her body, Carlotta didn’t place it.

As for the other cards, she began to sort and place them.

The circles in front of her were naturally for combat cards, making them easy to access.

The flight card and speed card were placed here, and after some thought, she also placed the Lightness card there.

"Are my combat cards a bit few?"

Carlotta’s expression was strange.

At her current rank, she could actually craft some combat cards, but she felt that most of those combat cards wouldn’t be as good as using her Elven Knight path.

Unless she obtained special primary materials like the Wind God stone or Elven Wings, which could imbue a combat card with a completely new life and greatly increase its power.

For the remaining cards, Carlotta arranged them according to their usage frequency. Those used more frequently were placed on the left and right sides, while those used rarely were placed behind her.

Actually, the circles could rotate, and the left side could also rotate to the front, but the default position was still with the combat cards in front.

They were arranged in three tiers, from high to low, and the "shelves" had ample space circles. After Carlotta placed dozens of cards, there was still plenty of room.

After arranging all the cards, Carlotta retracted the circles, and all the cards merged into her body without causing any discomfort.

"Whoosh!"

Amelia flew over and landed beside her, saying, "Carlotta, perhaps you can focus more on card magic in the future. Upon reaching the Listener stage, card magic also possesses considerable combat power."

She had always assumed the Elven Knight path was Carlotta’s secondary focus.

Although Carlotta’s progress in Elven Knight path had never lagged behind her card magic progress, which was astonishing, Amelia felt there was still a limit.

Secondary focus was inferior to primary focus; this was an immutable rule in this world.

Even the super-powerful Elora Thorne of the Wendell Empire, who could improve the Elven Knight path to a human version, could only elevate her Elven Knight path to the peak tier Listener level in a secondary state, unable to advance further to become a Resonator.

For anyone who embarked on the path of transcendence, the limit, the end, and an insurmountable mountain for any secondary magic or Knight path was the peak tier Listener stage.

Carlotta smiled and said, "I will pay attention."

No one would have thought that for her, both card magic and Elven Knight path were primary focuses. Due to her transmigration, she had two runes condensed within her body, making her different from everyone else.

Carlotta said, "Next, I want to challenge people on the sky rankings. With the speed card and flight card, my self-preservation ability is too strong. Unless a Resonator appears, no one will be my opponent... well, except you."

Upon hearing that Carlotta excluded herself, Amelia couldn’t help but smile.

Then, she said softly, "If you want to challenge the rankings, remember to be careful."

Take it seriously.

In fact, the current rankings sky were no longer that dangerous for her, because she could see everyone’s strength, and thus knew who she could challenge and who she couldn’t.

Carlotta looked at her own ranking.

109th place: Meriel Andrews, 205.

110th place: Moon, 200.

111th place: Jason K, 197.

In just a short while, her ranking had dropped a bit, but that was not important.

She looked at the two approaching opponents. Meriel was a middle tier Listener, and Jason was a peak tier Listener.

Both were beatable!

Carlotta naturally chose to target Meriel, who had more tokens and a lower strength. However, as she decided to challenge, Carlotta paused, considering how many tokens to wager.

She could wager all her tokens, but would that scare people? Even though she could reveal her rank, it might seem overly confident and lead to rejection.

As an early tier Listener, she wouldn’t be underestimated like she was when she was a ninth-tier apprentice.

After thinking, Carlotta reduced the number to 50 tokens to initiate the challenge and presented her rank to the opponent.

"The opponent has rejected your challenge."

A line of information appeared before her.

Carlotta’s eyes broadened at this, momentarily speechless. A middle tier Listener actually dared not accept her challenge?

"This is truly... indescribable."

Helpless, Carlotta could only turn to challenge Jason, who was ranked one place lower, while also feeling pained at wasting a turn.

This time, her challenge was not rejected again. As a teleportation force transmitted, she once again arrived at the familiar arena.

Opposite the arena stood a man entirely cloaked in black.

As Carlotta appeared, the man in black immediately attacked, summoning a bow in his hand. Instantly, black arrows shot through the air towards her.

Black arrows, whistling through the air, arrived with astonishing speed, appearing before her in the blink of an eye.

Carlotta dodged to the side, simultaneously activating her card battle art, using both the Speed Card and the Flight Card.

Wings appeared from her back, and she soared upwards, positioning herself above her opponent.

This scene caused Jasonn to show surprise. He immediately drew his bow again and shot fiercely.

"A Knight path for ranged attacks? How rare."

Carlotta murmured.

Her wings flapped, like a drifting elf, moving left and right with incredible agility, making it impossible for her opponent to hit her.

At this moment, Carlotta wished she had some ranged attack abilities. While there were such cards in Card Magic, she was unwilling to craft overly ordinary cards without the enhancement of special materials.

After crafting the Speed Card infused with Wind God Stone and the Flight Card infused with Elven Wings, Carlotta’s standards had risen.

As for now, it was time for close combat!

She opened her hands, and the purple gem ring on her finger flashed, transforming into a sword that she grasped.

Then, she charged down fiercely, engaging in a fierce battle with Jason.

It was an exhilarating fight.

After a considerable amount of time, Carlotta seized an opportunity, flashing past Jason. Her sword narrowly missed slicing his throat, only to be blocked by the bow in his hand.

"I surrender."

At this point, Jason was shocked. Although he didn’t understand why an early tier Listener was so formidable, he knew that continuing the fight would put his life in danger.

The next moment, the gladiatorial arena dissolved, and Carlotta returned to her original position.

The vast moonlight illuminated her, her red hair dancing in the wind, each strand crystalline.

She checked the newly acquired tokens on her and immediately channeled, opening the Sky Ranking.

Rank 74: Moon, 250.

Her rank had increased again. Carlotta glanced at her neighboring opponents, her heart skipping a beat.

The person at rank 73 was a Resonator. While she was confident in herself, she didn’t wish to clash with a Resonator.

Fortunately, the person at rank 75 was a Peak tier Listener.

Carlotta did not hesitate to challenge.

The next moment, she entered the dueling arena again.

This battle lasted a little longer, as her opponent, though also using Knight path, was more conventional and excelled in close combat, making him more capable of withstanding Carlotta’s unpredictable speed.

However, the outcome was still without suspense. When Carlotta left the ninth wound on her opponent, while remaining unharmed herself, her opponent finally chose to surrender.

"They are all smart, not choosing to fight me to the death. But indeed, there’s no need to fight to the death."

Upon returning, Carlotta caught her breath for a moment, feeling the need to rest.

Although she could defeat a peak tier Listener, it wasn’t an easy feat. She had to rest when it was time to rest.

She checked her rank and, as expected, it had improved again.

Rank 59: Moon, 300.

"If I’m lucky, I can break into the top 20 today. I hope those who reject me aren’t too many."

Carlotta whispered.

After a short rest, she resumed her challenges.

Over the next few hours, Carlotta continued to participate in challenges, causing her rank to steadily climb.

At some point, the sky began to brighten, with clouds rolling in and mist filling the mountains.

After using her last challenge opportunity for the day, Carlotta took a deep breath and looked at the Sky Ranking.

Rank 16: Moon, 600.

Her ranking had significantly improved. However, she remembered that when she first saw the Sky Ranking, only the first-ranked person had over 600 tokens. Now, she also had 600 tokens, yet she was only ranked 16th. Clearly, everyone’s token count was increasing.

But...

"Are these people ranked highly too cautious? Do they really not accept challenges?"

Carlotta looked at the ranking with a hint of helplessness.

By the time she used her sixth challenge opportunity, her token count had already reached 600. This was not only due to her challenging others, but also because others had challenged her, bringing her rewards.

However, as her token count reached 600 and her rank rose to 16th, the situation changed.

Carlotta initiated challenges against the two adjacent opponents, but both were rejected.

She waited for a while, observing changes in other people’s rankings. Although she remained at 16th, the people above and below her changed. She then initiated challenges against two new opponents, but they were also rejected.

This left Carlotta feeling helpless. She stared at the rankings and noticed that the token counts of those in the top 20 increased incrementally, likely obtained from hunting monsters. There were truly no challenges between them.

"Too cautious."

Carlotta shook her head.

When she challenged, her rank was displayed, which was lower than any of the opponents she challenged. Yet, these people dared not accept her challenge, leaving her at a loss for words.

Daybreak arrived, and Amelia, who had been scouting the surroundings, returned.

She had hunted some monsters and obtained a modest number of tokens, which she gave to Carlotta, increasing her token count to 622.

Carlotta did not hide anything from Amelia and explained her frustrating experience.

Amelia thought for a moment and said, "An early tier Listener breaking into the top 20 is already attention-grabbing. The higher your rank, the more hesitant people are to accept your challenge, thinking you might have something unusual."

Carlotta was taken aback, realizing it was indeed true. Among the top 20, she was the only early tier Listener. There were no middle tier Listeners. The remaining individuals were either peak tier Listeners or Resonators.

If this was the case, would her ten challenge opportunities tomorrow be useless? Would no one accept her challenges?

"Truly... hard to describe."

Carlotta felt a mix of amusement and exasperation, not knowing what to say.

Perhaps acting more cautiously was indeed the better choice.

Relaxing, Carlotta felt a sense of fatigue. She glanced at the sky, activated her card battle art, causing the blue rings around her to rotate slightly, and moved the position of the Carriage Card to the front.

Then, she took out the Carriage Card and flicked her hand, conjuring a carriage in place.

Compared to the conspicuous Moonlight, using a carriage would attract less attention.

"Daytime is the best time to sleep."

Carlotta entered the carriage.

Amelia was indifferent to sleep schedules, finding it perfectly fine to sleep during the day and be awake at night. She followed Carlotta into the carriage.