Drawing is a Serious Matter #4
My sense of disbelief had long since packed its bags and left, but the situation barreled forward regardless.
A Battle Table rose amid a cloud of dust. Flanking it, two hulking masses of muscle strode up with unabashed swagger.
"First things first—let's decide who goes first!"
Pollux slammed a button on the Battle Table with a resounding thunk. The table's durability was nothing short of miraculous, functioning perfectly despite the abuse.
Soon, two numbers flashed on the Soul Point display.
Pollux: 18. Alexander: 15.
"Tch...!"
Alexander grimaced and clicked his tongue, clearly miffed at losing first turn. Pollux let out a booming laugh and drew a card from his deck.
"Hahaha! Looks like I go first!"
His thick, meaty fingers deftly plucked a card without disturbing the deck. A confident grin spread across his wild, feral face as he checked his new hand.
...Or was it confident? Something about that smile felt forced to me.
"I'll deploy a magic circle: Pathway Expansion!"
Pathway Expansion
Pollux: 1 → 0
"Pathway Expansion?"
"Eden~ You know something~?"
"Mm."
Eden nodded curtly. Behind his raised glasses, his sharp intellect gleamed.
"Pathway Expansion is a support card you can deploy by discarding four cards from your hand."
"Eh~?"
Adella's eyes widened into circles. Four cards from hand? Even on the first turn, that would empty your hand completely.
If the cost was that steep, the payoff had to be worth it. Adella's face grew tense as she asked,
"What's the effect~?"
"Mm. Right after deploying it, you draw two cards from the deck. And starting next turn, you draw two cards each turn."
"Hmm~."
Adella tilted her head and let out a thoughtful hum. The rest of us reacted similarly.
Drawing two extra cards per turn was incredibly appealing, but the cost was brutally heavy.
Moreover, Pathway Expansion was a magic circle card that remained on the field after deployment. If it left the field somehow, its effect would vanish too—wasting those four cards for nothing.
In other words—
"It's a card you can't use unless you're extremely confident in your draws!"
"Hahaha! Perfect for showing off the results of my training!"
Pollux's thunderous laugh echoed as he drew two more cards from his deck.
A brief silence followed. We all swallowed hard.
Draw. A man who had forsaken everything else to hone that one skill—would it finally pay off?
Pollux shattered the quiet, answering our doubts with bold certainty.
"Hahaha! I summon Astrologer - Carne!"
Bam!
Pollux slapped the card down with a massive flourish. Beatrice flinched in surprise.
The Battle Table's magic, showcasing its legendary durability once more, read the card and manifested it as an illusion in reality.
A woman in her mysterious prime appeared in Pollux's zone, clad in a purple robe. Only her lower face was visible, curved in an enigmatic smile. The crystal orb in her hand constantly shifted its surface visions.
"I'll activate Carne's special ability! I declare a card name: Star Beast - Diakan!"
Heh heh heh...
The Astrologer - Carne let out a meaningful chuckle, caressing her crystal orb. Geometric patterns etched across its surface, briefly revealing a beast shaped like a living constellation.
"If I draw the declared card next turn during my draw step, I can summon it right away! Even a high-rank creature—no tribute needed!"
"What?!"
"Heh heh. But there's a drawback. If I don't draw it, I take 3,000 damage! An astrologer who can't predict the future is just a fraud—deserves the punishment!"
"Whoa!"
A pure gamble on draws! Alexander's jaw dropped.
3,000 damage—half the academy's base Soul Points in one hit. A high-risk ability.
"But if you nail the draw, it's a huge advantage. Especially with cards that manipulate the top of the deck..."
"Ain't got none of those!"
"..."
Eden's mouth hung open in shock—the most dumbfounded I'd ever seen him.
"Heard there are support cards like that, but they're super rare! Way beyond my wallet. And even if I bought 'em, I'd brick half the time without drawing what I need! Profs said tweak the deck, but you know how it is—cards that feel like dead weight, but one pop and it's chef's kiss combo city!"
Oh yeah, I knew those cards. For me, it was Final Advance. Useless without Machinery Colossus - Libertus, but I always slotted it in when running her anyway.
"So I trained my own skill instead! My folks birthed this tank of a body, after all!"
Hahaha! Pollux thumped his chest heartily, laughing uproariously. I started to feel genuine admiration.
This guy was weirdly earnest!
"Heh, even this tank had rough days. Nearly froze pulling high-rankers from that waterfall once!"
Admiration turned to secondhand embarrassment.
What the hell are you doing at a waterfall, you lunatic...?
"But that's how I got the ultimate draw power! I'll prove it next turn! Set one magic circle and end turn!"
Draw power...? Dude's got max eccentricity, at least!
"Uhahaha! Impressive! A true man among men!"
Alexander, who'd been listening quietly, burst into laughter. They sounded like long-lost twins.
"Facing a warrior like you satisfies me! My turn!"
Alexander drew and immediately slammed his card down.
"This is it! Come forth, my great homeland, the Maritime Kingdom Belluraca!"
First turn Zone again? I whistled inwardly.
Alexander had sneaky good draws. He'd pulled Zones first turn against me and Princess Alessia too.
"This is... the sea!"
Pollux gasped as seawater surged into his zone unimpeded. Astrologer - Carne barely avoided drowning by levitating on magic, but it limited Pollux's options hard.
"Yes! This is Belluraca, guardian of its throne for 800 years!"
"Hahaha! Fun! Bring it, Alexander Wales Belluraca!"
"Right, Pollux! I summon Abyssal Sniper!"
"Mm!?"
No creature appeared despite the slam. Pollux's eyes bulged, darting around.
But it was hidden deep in the sea.
"Thanks to Belluraca's effect, Water-type Abyssal Sniper's stats rise 30%!"
"Mm!"
"Battle! Abyssal Sniper, attack Astrologer - Carne!"
Plip. Unlike its master's voice, the sound from the depths was tiny—barely audible unless you strained.
But its precision was uncanny. A black poison needle streaked toward Carne's exposed throat as she focused solely on levitating.
"In response to your attack declaration, I deploy a magic circle: Prophecy of Misfortune!"
Prophecy of Misfortune
Pollux: 1 → 0
"Deploying this, I declare a card name: Star Beast - Piana!"
Pollux bellowed the name and pointed a thick finger at the top of his deck.
"Check the top card of my deck! If it matches my declaration, your attack declaration is negated, and I gain two Mana Crystals! If not, I take 1,000 Soul Point damage!"
Without hesitation, he drew the top card.
"Hmph!"
Pollux flashed a grin at the card. He held up a creature card resembling a constellation and shouted triumphantly.
"This is Star Beast - Piana! Your attack is negated, and my Mana Crystals increase by two!"
Carne, reading the orb's vision, flinched and shifted position with magic. The Abyssal Sniper's poison needle sailed harmlessly into empty air.
Pollux: 0 → 2