SWNOVELXO Chapter 111: Mercury Dynasty Deck
"Wuu, I can't play anymore, Tilan is bullying me." Ruby lay on the table, pretending to cry and put down her cards.
Although she had learned the card game for only half a day, someone seemed to be quite lucky, always able to draw the key cards without causing the game to stall and quickly using various tricks. After initial confidence and pride, Ruby was quickly defeated, unable to hold on after losing 8 consecutive games.
"It doesn't seem very hard." Looking at the still unplayed cards in her hand—'Roaring Tri-Headed Behemoth,' 'Witch Hedyth of the Underworld,' 'New Moon Summoning Ritual'—the girl felt the game was quite easy to learn.
"What happened?" The others were curious why Ruby had suddenly given up so they came over, only to see the scene of the recent thrashing.
"Hmm, that was quite a devastating loss."
"Speaking of which, does Tilan have a talent for this too?"
"I've never seen the president play before." They whispered amongst themselves.
After defeating Ruby, the other people in the room became interested, so one after another they challenged Tilan. The number of onlookers grew until eventually, everyone else in the house stopped what they were doing and gathered around the table to watch Tilan battle the other members.
...
The fifth game.
"This time Yalian is playing with the 'Silver Key Era Elf King' deck, which mainly relies on Silver Elves combined with various treasure cards to achieve different effects and win. This deck is very versatile and can handle all sorts of situations, but it is complex to use and if you're not careful, it can fall flat on its face."
"Here we go, Yalian plays 'Treasure Card: Skyward Horn,' which gives +1/+1 to any entering Natural Sequence creature, after activating twice it allows him to draw a card, and then the Skyward Horn goes to the graveyard."
"On Tilan's side, she plays the minion card 'Pumpkin Monster Hululu' 2/2, which upon death causes an explosion, dealing 1 damage to other creatures on the board. It seems Tilan's opening hand isn't very good; this card doesn't have an advantage when played early."
...
"Mid-game now, Yalian has finally gathered the conditions to use 'Treasure Card: Silver Key Knight Order's Holy Banner.' This card can only be activated after using five different treasure cards. When it enters, it summons three 3/3 Silver Key Knights who are immune to effect damage and can attack immediately on entering if the Holy Banner is on the field."
"Tilan's life is hanging by a thread, like a flickering candle in the wind. How will she turn the tides now?" Ruby, acting as the announcer, commented from the sidelines.
"Incredible, crushing, invincible, a round of applause! Tilan summons 'Death Tri-Head Blood-Eye Black Marrow Dragon,' a follower that requires three Blood-Eye Black Marrow Dragons in the graveyard to be summoned. It can attack three times each turn, is immune to insta-death effects, and whenever an enemy minion dies, both it and the main combatant recover 5 health points."
With a fierce dragon roar, black and red flaming illusions swirled around the gaming table, and from these black and red molten flames leapt out a tri-headed skeletal giant dragon, its body shedding flames to reveal pitch-black bones and blood-red eyes.
"Three times, three times! Tilan quickly brings her life points to a safe margin, while clearing the opponent's minions from the field. If Yalian can't deal with 'Death Tri-Head Blood-Eye Black Marrow Dragon' next turn, he'll inevitably perish under its thrice, consecutive attacks," Ruby's commentary grew more and more excited.
"A grand victory~ The foolish Elf King Yalian, although skilled in calculation, still fell to the overwhelming assault of the Mercury Dynasty. His tears are like the tumbling waters of the Pine Snow River, raging without end. Perhaps tonight he will end up weeping until he faints in the bathroom," Ruby continued to commentate.
"Cough, cough, don't be so dramatic, what fainting in the bathroom, is it that embarrassing," Yalian said, putting down his cards, wanting to cover Ruby's mouth. This idol girl, or rather, succubus lady, was getting more and more out of hand.
"Who will be the next to challenge our lofty Necromancer Queen, Miss Tilan?" Ruby sat behind Tilan, waving the folding fan in her hand.
"Humph, it's time for this boss to take the stage." With Yalian stepping back, Kinsenke boldly took the seat across from Tilan.
"Now you shall witness the might of the ancient tyrant, the Tyrant King!"
After speaking, the two of them commenced battle.
The first round.
"Play 'Despicable Monetary Bribe,' allowing the main defender to gain an extra Magic Power crystal after three turns." Kinsenke laid down the first card.
On the card, a fat-faced merchant was handing over a hefty bag of Gold Coins to the guards at the dock.
The second turn.
"Use the card 'Slave Trade on the River,' draw two minion cards." A slave ship docked at the shore, and one of the chained slaves dressed in tattered clothes was being driven off the ship by black-clad soldiers.
...
The third turn.
"I place, 'Field Card: The Great Bridge Blocking the River,' which summons a 1/1 'Bridge Building Slave' upon entry and decreases the opposing field by one while this card is in play."
Kinsenke placed a card showing slaves in ragged clothes being rushed to build an unfinished bridge over the vast blue river, with dark fences piercing the water subtly visible beneath the bridge structure.
...
The sixth turn.
"I lay down the third, 'Field Card: The Great Bridge Blocking the River,' and also activate the spell card 'Tyrant King's Edict.' For each 'The Great Bridge Blocking the River' on my field, the opposing field is reduced by one, leaving you, Tilan, with space for only one minion at a time." A brass law inscription was hammered onto both sides of the bridge, proclaiming some kind of ban.
"This is difficult now. The main advantage of the Necromancer Sequence lies in deploying multiple minions. If there's only one slot, it will be hard to turn the game around unless I summon three 'Black Marrow Dragons' like in the previous match," analyzed a companion by his side.
...
The seventh turn.
"Ha, can't solve this, can you? Watch me summon 'Ancient Tyrant: Tyrant King.' Upon its entrance, it gains +2/+2 for each 'The Great Bridge Blocking the River' on the field, and sequentially becomes immune to fatal damage, immune to effect damage, and immune to target-specific specials!" Kinsenke opened the personal terminal at his hand, and a forceful song began to play.
"It is problematic…" Tilan pinched the card in her hand, assessing the situation.
Historically, how was the Tyrant King defeated? It was said that he was vanquished by three heroes, who then established a nation called 'Eminens' beside this great river at the center of the continent. The most famous of those heroes was Witch Gabriella, the dancer with weapon-blades.
Unfortunately, she did not have these three heroes in her deck, so she had to think of another method.
She did have some pretty effective cards in her hand, but at this moment, due to the slot limitations, they were ineffective and also failed to resolve the situation.
"I can only use this, 'Shadow Over the Dynasty,' expensive to cast but with random effects." Tilan softly spoke as she placed it, after which the dueling table lit up.
Over the countless castles and the army of the dead, a vast shadow loomed, arguably in the shape of a woman, and also a witch.
'Shadow Over the Dynasty,' from the dynasty's very inception, had deep ties with witches. Many of the executive officers who ruled places were ageless witches, and during times of crisis, the dynasty would always have special external support to turn peril into safety. — Excerpt from "Secret History of the Mercury Dynasty"
When using 'Shadow Over the Dynasty,' it randomly summons a witch associated with the Mercury Dynasty and activates an effect. This card seemed omnipotent, but its effects were exceptionally unstable.
"Now, which witch will make her entrance?" Ruby's voice deliberately stretched out, whetting the appetite of the onlookers.
A pitch-black fog spread across the dueling table, with distant sounds of oars slowly approaching, and then a small boat shaped like a black crescent moon gradually appeared. A tall and mature woman stood aboard the boat, veiled in black, with violet long hair, and wrapped in a dark gown.
As if sailing through the night, bridging The Abyss and reality, the witch Selmes slowly came into view.