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HC: Handyman | Ch. 181 - Picking the Baton

After disappearing from the kitchen for several minutes, Professor Masse returned carrying a stack of books and folders.

He set them on the table without a word, then reached for the thickest folder. One by one, he began laying out photographs—old ones, some black and white, others faded like they’d been pinned to a corkboard for decades.

Jack leaned forward. The photos weren’t glossy or modern, but they had a quiet weight to them. Some of the carvings were smooth and simple...

New Batch of Card Crawler: Snap & Craft

Hey everyone!

Chapters 27 through 35 of Card Crawler are now live and ready to read. That’s nine fresh chapters waiting for you—I hope you enjoy the ride! Thanks for being here and supporting the story.

Card Crawler: Snap & Craft 📷🃏🤖 - 📖 Read for free

Have a great weekend,

Cássio

HC: Handyman | Ch. 180 - Before

“The workshop,” as the professor called it, was really just his garage. But unlike the chaotic, art-choked house Jack had stepped through earlier, this space was pristine. Tools hung in precise rows. Supplies were stored in labeled drawers. The air smelled of varnish and steel.

The professor changed as he entered. His shoulders straightened. His movements grew sharper. It was as if stepping into this place made him younger somehow.

Jack followed cautiously inside.

“Ver...

HC: Handyman | Ch. 179 - Set Up

The train began to slow as Providence came into view. From the train, it didn’t look too different from Boston. Brick buildings, faded murals, and the shimmer of tech woven into the old skyline. Jack gathered his things.

He stepped off the train and into the morning air, pulling his hood against the wind.

As Jack spotted Marie on the platform, he slowed down. She wasn’t alone.

Someone was standing next to her—a girl around his age. She had a sharp, angular face set in ...

HC: Handyman | Ch. 178 - Cover Blown

After a meeting that stretched for several hours and a home-cooked dinner with his parents, Jack finally went to bed.

He woke to the sound of his alarm blaring beside him. Still tangled in his blanket, he fumbled for his phone and nearly tumbled off the bed in the process.

He felt groggy, heavy-limbed, and a little disoriented—but oddly rested. Like his body had just come up from the bottom of a lake. It was the kind of sleep that left behind a weight, not because he was tired, ...

HC: Card Slinger | Ch. 57 - Fireworks

Deckard floated between the reefs, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible. “Do you really think we’ll be able to scoop up the loot in t

Deckard floated between the reefs, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible.

“Do you really think we’ll be able to scoop up the loot in the middle of all this chaos?” he heard one of the nearby players comment.  

“Yesterday, a solo player managed it. I think our odds are good—especially if we stick together.” &nb...

Want to Help Me Design Cards?

Hi everyone!

While writing Card Slinger, there are times when I mention that Deckard captured several cards—but I don’t always dive into what each of them does.

Want to help me fill in the blanks?

Come help me design some cards!

I’ve set up a Canva template with everything you need to create your own. You’ll find the link below. Let’s complete Deckard’s collection together!

Right now, we’re missing eight starfish and two shellfish cards. �...

HC: Card Slinger | Ch. 56 - Merewai

After a full day of turtle hunting, Deckard studied the five cards in his hand and nodded.

Just two more.

According to his research, all that remained to complete the turtle set was the wild boss and the unique skill it dropped. Despite being a small set, the difficulty of obtaining these last two cards made it the hardest one yet.

A murmur of voices drifted from the shore as yet another crowd began dispersing. Ever since he’d settled here, he’d witnessed four w...

HC: Handyman | Ch. 177 - Work Meeting

Jack hadn’t known what to expect—but somehow, seeing their real faces still caught him off guard.

Amari’s skin was even darker than his avatar suggested. The biggest surprise, though, was the lack of hair. In-game, he wore long braids that gave him a laid-back, confident vibe. In real life, he was clean-shaven—at least on top. A neatly trimmed beard hugged his jaw, adding a different kind of sharpness.

Horace looked almost exactly like his avatar—bulky frame, unshakable ...

HC: Card Slinger | Ch. 55 - Turtle

It was time to start farming turtles.

Deckard adjusted his spectacles, weighing his options. 

Should I fight on the surface or go underwater?

If he stayed above, he could finally return to card-slinging—something he sorely missed. More importantly, he’d be able to keep an eye on the guilds. But just as he could see them, they’d see him. Slinging cards meant drawing attention. He could also hunt with the spear while staying atop the reef—less risk, more ...

Temporary Debuff: [Vacation Mode]

Hi everyone!

Hope you're all doing well. Just a quick heads-up—my wife and I will be taking a short vacation from April 1st to 5th.

I’ve scheduled all the posts for the week in advance, but I had to scale back Handyman to two chapters last week and this week. Thanks for your understanding!

If I’m a bit slow to reply to comments, that’s why. I’ll be mostly offline, but I’ll still check in once a day in case anything urgent comes up.

Wishing you...

HC: Handyman | Ch. 176 - Overwhelmed

Jack adjusted his position, fingers drumming lightly on the armrest. This was going to be his first time seeing Amari and the others in real life—and the first time they'd see him, too. He didn’t know why he felt so on edge.

It wasn’t like his appearance was wildly different from his avatar. If anything, they were nearly identical. Maybe it wasn’t nervousness at all—maybe it was anticipation. Excitement. He was finally going to see Amari’s, Horace’s, and Marie’s real fac...

CS Poll | Which Pops More?

Hi everyone!

Help me out, please.

What cover do you like more?

Thank you for sharing your thought!

🎉 It’s Today! 🎉 2 Years Since My First Chapter Went Live on Royal Road!

Dear friends,

Two years ago today, I was unemployed, sick, with a sick wife, a hungry cat, and two imperfect stories under my belt when I uploaded my very first chapter. I had no idea what I was doing—just a story to tell and a deep hope that someone, somewhere, might enjoy it.

What a journey it’s been since then. A 14-book-long journey, to be precise.

You've done so much for me these last few years, and your support means the world. Every little click, every kind commen...

HC: Card Slinger | Ch. 54 - Psychological Warfare

Seeing so many players who surpassed him in underwater combat rattled Deckard’s confidence. He pushed his feelings aside. It was too soon to accept defeat. They were only a few steps ahead, nothing he couldn’t close with time and practice.

Besides, fighting them head-on wasn’t his plan. He was here only for the cards.

For now, he focused on learning the terrain. He swam slowly, mapping the seabed—the stretches of undisturbed sand, the places with more turtles, the jagged r...

HC: Card Slinger | Ch. 53 - Landmark

The repository finally finished absorbing the elite crab.

Collection updated.

+0.2 attack

Congratulations! You’ve captured all the cards from the crab’s ecosystem.

Your repository cross-references all genetic information, granting you deeper insight into this environment.

You’ve received [Molting Grotto].

2025-03-27 14:10:57 +0000 UTC View Post

HC: Card Slinger | Poll | Milestone Rewards

Hey folks!

As I’m reviewing the Card Slinger chapters in preparation for the Royal Road release, I’ve come across a few things I’d love your input on.

⚠️ Spoiler warning: If you haven’t read past Chapter 13, stop here!

So, here’s the thing—whenever Deckard completes a milestone, he unlocks a new card and a skill.

Now I’m wondering:
Should he also receive a stat bonus?

For example, let’s say he finishes...

HC: Card Slinger | Ch. 52 - Amphibian Crab

Shell Bay never rested. Even with the Turtle Mother long dead—its body gone, its loot claimed—the beach still buzzed with restless energy. The air hung thick with salt and sweat.

Up on Market Boulder, players haggled over loot and swapped rumors. Deals were struck, threats exchanged, and fresh kills appraised.

Down at the beach, metal clashed, and skills crackled as players fought off the crabs that scuttled across the dry sand.

Closer to the water, players scavenged dri...

HC: Card Slinger | Ch. 51 - Dumpster Disguise

Deckard had been at it for three days. He’d even broken his self-imposed rule of not checking guides too much—just enough to confirm that the turtle did, in fact, drop more skill cards than just [Scavenge]. It did. But the odds hadn’t been in his favor so far.

At least, thanks to his two new titles, [Scooba Fighter] and [Osmotic Skin], underwater hunting had become much easier. His movements were more fluid, his oxygen lasted longer, and he’d gotten better at predicting the turt...

HC: Handyman | Ch. 175 - Friendly Fire

After Jack pitched his theory of how they might be able to leave the Breach and return here, they’d all come running back to the fortress. With the arrival of the boss wave, everyone had almost forgotten about the broken mechanic Jack had unlocked earlier. But now, everyone was gathered around the mud hut near the fire, hoping to see if it would work.

Mud Hut (Uncommon)

A simple shelter fashioned with tempered clay and covered with a dry grass roof. 2025-03-25 11:46:19 +0000 UTC View Post