Draws Are a Serious Matter #5
“Wh-what?”
Not only had he manipulated the deck order, but he'd just guessed the card on instinct—and it hit. Alexander's jaw dropped at the impossible turn of events.
“Heh heh heh. Cards confirmed by Prophecy of Misfortune go to the bottom of the deck after their effects resolve.”
Pollux's face beamed with triumph as he slid the [Star Beast - Piana] from his hand to the bottom of his deck.
“...Hm. So the training really paid off.”
“I guess~ but I still can't handle getting drenched by waterfall water~.”
Eden muttered with a slight tremor in his voice, while Adella stuck out her tongue in dismay.
“So, what's the deal! Alexander Wales Belluraca! Is that the end of your attack?!”
“Guh...!”
Alexander swallowed a groan, unable to fire back at Pollux's taunt. With fingers thick as iron clubs, he drew one card from his hand.
“I'll set one magic circle and end my turn!”
Alexander Wales Belluraca
“Hahaha! My turn then!”
Pollux thumped his chest like a gorilla, his eyes sparkling. Yellowed fangs gleamed between his grinning lips.
“Remember this? The special ability of my Astrologer - Karne! If Star Beast - Diakan is among the two cards I draw this turn, I can summon it without tribute!”
“Urgh!”
“...Can he really draw it? That card?”
Alessia's stunned question hung in the air as Pollux drew two cards without a word.
“My turn!”
The air grew heavy, thick with tension like wet earth. We swallowed hard, eyes fixed on Pollux's face.
And then, his lips split into a grin.
“Hahahahaha! Here it comes—Star Beast - Diakan!”
“!”
Pollux's laughter boomed through the forest. Starlight flashed from his hand.
He slammed one of the drawn cards onto the battle table.
“Diakan, summon!”
-Heh heh heh heh...
The [Astrologer - Karne] let out an eerie chuckle. As she caressed the crystal orb with seductive gestures, it pulsed with pure white light.
Above [Karne]'s head, white dots began densely embedding themselves in the empty air.
Starlight.
The astrologers' compass and guide descended close to the earth, flaunting its mystical form. The stars competed in brilliance, soon weaving white bands connecting them.
-Grrrrr...
A beast's low growl rumbled deeply.
The starry bands formed a skeleton, the veil of night becoming its hide. The silhouette vaguely resembled a massive bear.
The constellation's shape—a bizarre yet mystical starry bear—roared with the same vigor as its master.
-Rooooaaar—!!
【Star Beast - Diakan】
★4 / Light Type / Beast
Stats: 2,600
A constellation. I wouldn't know—I have no clue if these are real constellations from this world.
Gyosik once tried teaching me back on Earth, but no matter how many times I looked, they all looked the same to me. Should've paid more attention then. Might've figured out if this world has the same stars as Earth.
Anyway, beneath [Diakan]'s starry paws, the seawater summoned by [Maritime Kingdom Belluraca] lapped gently. But as the beast settled its massive bulk, the water fled from around it, as if proclaiming its own domain.
The power of the stars... maybe that's why. Magic & Creature has these unexpected matchups sometimes—it's a real pain.
“Heh heh heh. Not done yet! I'll activate Astrologer - Karne's special ability once more! This time, I declare Star Beast - Kerahum!”
-Heh heh heh heh...
[Astrologer - Karne]'s crystal orb glowed again. This time, a living tiger constellation appeared.
“If Star Beast - Kerahum is among his two draws next turn...”
“It'll summon right away, rank be damned~.”
“Hm, forest training indeed...”
Alessia touched her chin, looking puzzled. As royalty, she seemed unsure how to process Pollux's training method.
“Here I go! Alexander Wales Belluraca! Star Beast - Diakan attacks Abyssal Sniper!”
“What? My warrior under the sea?!”
“Hahaha! Didn't you see? To my Star Beast, seawater's no great barrier!”
“Guh...!”
-Rooooaaar—!
At its master's command, [Star Beast - Diakan] bellowed thunderously. Its massive body charged Alexander's side without hesitation, shoving the seawater aside with each step.
“Th-this!”
And finally, as [Diakan]'s paw crossed into [Belluraca]'s domain, the displaced water revealed the merfolk form of [Abyssal Sniper] in full.
“Go, Diakan! Gravity Press!”
-Roooar!
The beast's starry-boned paw lifted high before slamming down on the sea warrior.
Deprived even momentarily of the ocean's power, [Abyssal Sniper] couldn't withstand it.
“Kuh!”
Alexander Wales Belluraca
Soul Point: 5,000 → 3,200
Thanks to [Star Beast - Diakan]'s special trait, [Abyssal Sniper]'s stats reverted to normal, reducing Alexander's damage—but that was no good news.
“I'll set one magic circle and pass the turn! Your move, Alexander Wales Belluraca!”
Pollux
“Right! My turn!”
Alexander licked his lips tensely and placed his hand on his deck.
His eyes blazed with fighting spirit as he bellowed.
“I stake everything on this card!”
He drew. In that instant, his ocean-blue eyes gleamed.
“I summon Sea Specter - Specter Jelly!”
Squish—squish—.
A bizarre sound echoed faintly from beneath the sea—like rising bubbles or a specter's mournful wail.
Still hidden under the water, its stats appeared on the battle table for us to see.
【Sea Specter - Specter Jelly】
★1 / Water Type / Fish, Undead
Stats: 0
A shocking zero.
“Eh, wha~?”
“Stats... 0...?”
Adella's eyes widened as she stammered. Princess Alessia gaped in shock.
I was stunned too. Alexander, who once called my [Cursed Marionette] a trash zero-stat card at our first meeting, pulling something like this?
“Hm.”
Only Eden nodded solemnly, as if it made perfect sense.
“Huh? Uhahahaha! Why so surprised?!”
Noticing our stares, Alexander burst into hearty laughter.
“I've grown too, you know! No more judging a card's worth by a single stat!”
His booming declaration rang out like an oration. Then, with a serious gaze, he turned to me.
“This card was born as an Origin card after our duel, Ricardo Bardi. I'm grateful to you! You broadened my horizons!”
Uhahahaha—!
I stared blankly at his laughing face.
A quiet stream stirred deep in my heart.
My existence sparked positive change in someone.
It felt the same when I saved Isabella years ago—strangely unfamiliar.
My past life—me on the battlefield—only destroyed things, killed people.
Unfamiliar, awkward, bewildering. Like wearing ill-fitting clothes.
“...Hm.”
But somehow... this faint, ticklish feeling wasn't so bad.
I covered my mouth with my hand, unsure of my expression. Probably looked pretty dumb right now.
“Hahahaha! I see! So that's the proof of your growth, Alexander Wales Belluraca!”
“Aye, it is!”
“Then come at me! I'll take it all!”
“Right! Here I come, Pollux!”
Ignoring my thoughts, the two dove back into the duel.
“Ricardo, Ricardo~.”
Adella had sidled up beside me at some point, poking my cheek.
“You okay~? Look like you're having some profound realization~.”
Profound realization. Her playful yet gentle smile made me feel oddly embarrassed.
I averted my gaze.
“Nothing... it's nothing...”