C47: 1st Class C Card
Sure enough.
Seeing the word [Synthesis] flashing on the system interface, Li Ran's heart skipped a beat, and even though he had mentally prepared for it, his breathing still quickened.
After all, this was a C-rank card—something that would normally require an expenditure of 10,000 points of legendary fame to obtain through the coveted [Bronze Treasure Chest].
What remained unknown was just how different a C-rank character card would be from a D-rank one.
Based on Li Ran's past experience and system analysis, card rankings seemed based on power tiers. E-level cards typically represented individuals grounded in a more mundane reality street-level or human characters like [Baby] from Baby Driver, or [Agent J] from Men in Black, who, despite some gear and agency resources, still operated within human limitations.
D-rank cards, however, took a clear step up. They included individuals with either specialized combat skills or quasi-supernatural powers. Characters like [Phantom Thief Kid] who mirrors elements of classic anti-heroes like Marvel's Gambit or DC's Catwoman had skills that allowed for stealth, disguise, and misdirection, making them formidable in urban encounters. Similarly, [Ah Xing], who echoed Jackie Chan's slapstick kung fu flair, and [Ip Man], a martial legend akin to characters like Shang-Chi in the Marvel Universe, represented refined combat capabilities capable of turning the tide even against small armies.
However, these D-rank characters would still struggle when facing metahuman threats or heavy firepower. Case in point: during the Harlem incident, had Luke Cage, Power Man himself, with unbreakable skin and super strength not shown up, Li Ran might have been seriously injured despite his tactical prowess.
It was clear then: gaining fame and unlocking more powerful cards was critical. Because as someone familiar with the Marvel and DC multiverses, Li Ran understood full well…
New York would soon become the epicenter of a much larger storm, one that spanned the cosmos. Between S.H.I.E.L.D.'s fall, the rise of Thanos, incursions from the Dark Dimension, and Lex Luthor's manipulation of Kryptonian tech—there wasn't much time. He had no desire to be turned to cosmic dust by a Mad Titan's snap or vaporized during a battle between Parademons and Amazons.
That's why, for Li Ran, survival meant evolution.
Following the familiar pattern between E and D-rank cards, C-rank characters were likely built to resist higher-tier threats, possibly even shrugging off standard firearms like Punisher's arsenal or enduring the kind of blasts a Chitauri soldier might launch during an invasion.
With anticipation rising, he returned to the system interface.
Shaking off all distractions, Li Ran firmly tapped [Synthesis].
A white glow burst from the [C-Class Card Fragments × 5] section of the interface.
Then it appeared a new, bronze-hued card shimmered before his eyes.
[C-Rank Card – Mizuki]
Skills: Chakra, Three Body Technique, Broken Curse Seal
Background Introduction: Mizuki is a rogue ninja from Naruto, originally hailing from Konohagakure. A disgraced former instructor, he manipulated Naruto Uzumaki into stealing the Scroll of Seals and exposed the truth about the Nine-Tails. Defeated by Naruto's Shadow Clone Jutsu, Mizuki later defected and became a test subject under Orochimaru. Ultimately, he was discarded, a failed pawn in Orochimaru's schemes.
Remark: "A brat like you? I could end you with one punch... arghhhh!"
Mizuki?
A relatively minor character who barely made it through the early episodes of Naruto. To be honest, Li Ran felt a sting of disappointment. For his first synthesized C-rank card, drawing a character like Mizuki—a glorified tutorial-level antagonist felt anticlimactic.
But disappointment aside, what's done was done. The card was synthesized. Complaining now wouldn't change that. He forced himself to refocus, scrutinizing the card's stats. If Mizuki qualified as a C-rank card, the system must see value in his skill set.
As he equipped the [Mizuki] card, the first change Li Ran felt was a strange energy surging through his body: chakra.
Clearly, [Chakra] functioned as a passive skill, much like [Adrenal Acceleration] from the [Wesley Gibson] card, drawn from Wanted. Unlike Wesley's bullet-time adrenaline rush, this chakra felt stable—no wild surges or violent spikes of energy.
Of course, that made sense. Mizuki was no Naruto or Sasuke. He wasn't even in the league of elite Marvel martial artists like Elektra or Daredevil, much less DC's Lady Shiva or Bronze Tiger. Even among the lower end of chakra users, Mizuki would be considered mediocre.
Still, chakra was chakra, it could enhance physical capabilities, allow jutsu usage, and interact with the spiritual. Li Ran was eager to test its applications.
He turned next to the Three Body Technique—the Transformation, Substitution, and Clone Jutsus, core components of Konoha Academy training. These were the bread-and-butter skills for young shinobi.
Activating the Transformation Jutsu, he formed a hand sign in his mind.
A puff of smoke erupted—Bang! and standing where Li Ran once was appeared none other than Tony Stark, complete with goatee and a cocky grin.
This was leagues beyond the costumed sleight-of-hand of [Phantom Thief Kid]. Li Ran studied his reflection in the antique shop's mirror. If he didn't know better, he'd have believed Tony himself had stepped through a portal from Stark Tower.
After dismissing the transformation, he ran trials on the Substitution and Clone techniques. Both were effective but burned through chakra quickly. The drain reminded him of how even trained heroes like Moon Knight or Nightwing had to manage their stamina in long engagements.
No wonder Mizuki's chakra felt like a low-tier battery, it burned out fast under stress.
Still, the versatility was impressive. These jutsus could function as escape tools, distractions, or traps. Definitely superior to D-level evasion techniques.
Then came the final skill, Broken Curse Seal.
Li Ran didn't know all the ins and outs of Naruto, but he knew enough to realize that Mizuki had received a preliminary version of Orochimaru's curse mark—a proto-symbiotic technique meant to forcibly amplify a subject's power while tethering them to Orochimaru's will. It was reminiscent of Marvel's Knull-symbiote experiments or Darkseid's brainwashing of soldiers on Apokolips.
The term "Broken" likely meant the seal was no longer complete,possibly due to Mizuki's defection or Orochimaru abandoning him midway through enhancement.
Still, even a fragment of such a seal was dangerous.
Li Ran suspected that activating it might boost his strength and chakra output temporarily, but at a cost. Perhaps pain, instability, or risk of corruption?
Whatever it was, he would find out soon.
Because in this world where Kryptonians could crash through buildings and Celestials could reshape planets—power came at a price.
And Li Ran was ready to pay it.
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