MARVEL: CARD EXTRACTION SYSTEM

[It is impossible to use the Card Extraction System to create interdimensional portals to show glimpses or transport characters.]

'Shit... this is…'

[However, there is an alternative. If the user turns a character into a character card, it would be possible to keep the character card in the deck or inventory and equip it to take the character out of the card, thus completing an interdimensional journey.]

My eyes widened in astonishment. This was incredible, this was great, this was significantly more than I wanted. This way I could take other characters to help me in other universes.

'Knowing you, System, there must be a price to pay.'

[Character cards work differently than other cards. For a better understanding, think of them as pokeballs.]

The comparison surprised me. Pokeballs?

[You have to buy a Capture Card from the store before you can use it on a character. The fixed cost of a Capture Card is 1000 Card Points.]

If I thought of Character Cards as a way to store characters, it would be just like catching a Pokémon, and the cost wouldn't be as high as I thought.

'Okay, but what's the catch? It can't be that simple.'

[Right, it's not simple. To turn a character into a character card, the character has to be weakened or agree to the process. Also, the more powerful the character is, the better the Capture Card must be, just like pokeballs.]

'Of course...' I thought with a sigh. 'So basically, I can't go around trying to turn everyone into cards, because not only will each card cost me a lot, but I'll need cards that are probably even more expensive if I want to capture someone powerful like Thor or Dr. Strange.'

The character cards were a huge new piece of information because it meant I could build my own team that could fight anywhere. However, there was obviously a problem with all of this.

'Do character cards need to be equipped like the others?'

[Yes, all cards in this system are still part of the deck.]

'Okay, that's complicated. I would have allies, but I would have fewer slots for skills that aren't assimilated. Now assimilations have become much more important to me... After transforming a character into a character card, can I release it or undo the transformation?'

[Yes, it is possible to release a character from being tied to the card, but if you want to turn it back into a character card, you will have to spend card points to buy another character card.]

Basically, this meant that I could cheat the system a bit and release a character from my domain so that I could use the space in my deck just for skills, but I would have the disadvantage of having to spend more Card Points if I wanted to take it back to another universe.

'Okay, I think I understood everything you wanted to know. Thank you, System.'

"Hello? Earth to Lucas." Gwen was in front of me, trying to get my attention somehow, while I was completely focused on my thoughts the whole time.

"You wanted to know if I could show you my universe, right? Yes, I can, but only if you come with me."

"Really? Then let's go!"

"Wait, aren't you accepting too quickly? What about your father? What about school?"

"I haven't slept at home for a few days now, ever since my dad found out I was Spider-Woman. He told me to leave before he changed his mind and locked me up, so I did. Since then, I've been focusing my efforts on getting information on Murdock to show this city where the real corruption lies, but now that Murdock himself knows who I am, it would be best not to go back to class so as not to endanger the staff."

"Okay, so we're going on this trip. But I have to say, it's a little... complicated. It's not like I can open a portal and pull you into my world like in the science fiction movies we know. The power I have... well, it's a little different. To transport someone with me, I would have to turn them into a card. Essentially, you would be 'stored' in a card, a kind of character card that I could summon in other universes."

Gwen's expression changed from confusion to complete disbelief. "You said you weren't a mutant, and that you were from another universe... but now some kind of entity is starting to appear. Are you a god who possessed the head of my classmate Lucas or something like that?"

"No, I'm not some kind of being or god, not that I know of. But using cards is the main part of my power."

Her lips curved into a smile of disbelief, and she shook her head slowly. "So what you're saying is that I become... what? Some kind of miniature action figure you can keep in your pocket and use when you need to?"

"It's not exactly like that. You wouldn't be... um... miniaturized. More like a drawing of the queen on a playing card. You'd be in a kind of 'hibernation' inside the card until we were in the other universe. One moment inside the card and the next you'd be back in action, in the other universe."

Gwen was silent as she stared at me. She wasn't the kind of person to accept every idea without question, so she analyzed me, trying to find any trace of a lie.

"Okay, you don't seem to be kidding." She said with a more serious look. "But how can I trust that there won't be any side effects? What if something goes wrong while I'm on this card?"

I swallowed. Her concern was valid, and I didn't have all the answers myself.

"I can assure you that it's safe while I'm transformed as a card, but honestly, I'm still discovering the limits of it. If you want to see what the other universes are like, you'll have to trust me."

"Of course I already trust you, you idiot." She said, stretching her right arm forward a bit and weakly punching one of my shoulders. Then she stepped back and opened her arms. "All right, I'm ready. You can do it."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure! I can't wait to see what the realities parallel to mine are like. Will I find another one of me?"

I just smiled and thought:

'Buy a standard capture card.'

[Standard Capture Card - 1,000 Card Points. Do you want to buy it?]

'Yes.'

[Standard Capture Card purchased. 1,000 Card Points deducted.]

'Activate Standard Capture Card.' I thought, letting the system do what it needs to do.

A bluish light began to form around me, as if particles of energy were being pulled out of the air and gathered around Gwen. She stared at her own hand in surprise as the tiny lights, glowing like fireflies, encircled her body.

"That's really cool." She said with a look and smile of fascination.

Gradually, Gwen's body began to dematerialize, becoming a silhouette of pure energy until all that was left of her was a glowing mass of bluish light. Then, in a flash, she became nothing but light, light that gathered together to form a card.

In front of me, a holographic card floated in the air, spinning slowly. It was different from the other cards I'd collected so far, blinking like a pokeball I hadn't caught yet.

[Spider Gwen Character Capture in progress...]

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