Glontes of Gluttony #2

Even in a world obsessed with this card game, there were physical limits. The nameless cave we were in had no Battle Table installed.

With no other choice, I took the Battle Arc from the unconscious Pollux and strapped it to my arm. The heavy, coiling sensation heightened the tension.

It had been mere hours since my duel with Leviathana, and now I was plunging into back-to-back battles. Without Beltum Professor's support this time, relying solely on the Battle Arc would drain my mental energy considerably.

But it didn't matter. I'd firmly resolved to confront the scars of my past life. Even if it meant lying bedridden for days afterward, it was nothing compared to losing Adella.

Steeling my resolve, I faced the man who called himself 'Glontes.' A guttural gurgle echoed loudly as foam-flecked drool dripped from his steel-like jaw.

As if he couldn't wait any longer, he drew a card from his deck without even declaring the duel. I had no words for him either, so I did the same.

I rolled a 4. Glontes a 6.

The first-turn player confirmed, the display shifted to Soul Points. But unlike the academy games I'd played so far—

Federico Academy's Magic & Creature academy rules capped initial SP at 5,000 for both players. But under expert rules used outside, it was determined by the soul's inherent power.

Mine was exceptionally high, likely due to my death and reincarnation. And as expected from a continental crime syndicate executive, Glontes's SP was nearly equal to mine.

"I-Initial Soul Points over 10,000..."

Erhun, who had gently laid Pollux on the dirt, widened her acorn-like eyes in shock.

Ignoring her completely, Glontes spat drool as he drew his card.

"My turn! ...Oh, Chipera-nim, my thanks. This foolish Glontes shall wield the grace bestowed upon us six apostles by Chipera-nim..."

Confirming the card in his hand, Glontes muttered prayerfully. Despite his bizarre form, he acted like a devout believer.

"I deploy the magic circle, Paradise Lost..!"

In an instant, eerie patterns flared in Glontes's bulging eyes, visible to me even from a distance with unnatural clarity. Thick lines spiraled upward from the center, shadows of flies writhing along them.

Dong—! Dong—! Dong—! Bells tolled simultaneously. But there was no sanctity here.

The endless, ominous peals felt like mockery of gods and paradise.

"With Paradise Lost's effect, I retrieve a Zone card from my deck and deploy it... The card I deploy is Kingdom of Famine - Pamesium!"

Grrrrrrumble... Echoes of ravenous hunger whipped through the air. From Glontes's feet, cracked, barren earth erupted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in a blackened mass.

Yellowed, rotting wheat fields covered it, ragged hides of unknown beasts fluttering from poles.

Buzzzzzz...

Glontes's shadow stretched behind him. Countless flies surged from it, clustering into a colossal tower of raw flesh.

At its peak hung a lonely throne of bone and leather.

"And there... I summon Preemptive Antenna - Musca Premion..."

A grotesque silhouette shuffled out from the fleshy kingdom—a hybrid of human and fly. Its bloated body contrasted with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠stunted, twisted wings unfit for flight.

A thick, tentacle-like antenna protruded from its head, wriggling ceaselessly.

"Ugh..."

Erhun grimaced at the repulsive form. I felt the same, but focused on its type.

Not Darkness, but Earth...

Given his position as a syndicate executive—and Leviathana's Darkness creatures—I'd assumed Darkness types. This was unexpected.

Of course, even Origin creatures from the same person weren't fixed to one type, so I'd watch. But if it was all Earth...

Can't use the same strategy as with Leviathana.

I glanced at the [Atomic Core] already in my hand.

Glontes calling Leviathana a 'bitch' suggested poor relations among executives, so they likely hadn't shared my info—reason I'd included it. But now it felt awkward.

Considering Leviathana's [Dark Slime - Darkness Pudding], which grew by equipping defeated foes, I figured Glontes's Gluttony creatures had similar abilities.

If they were Darkness with that power, I could've equipped Atomic Core for type repulsion instant-kill. Pity. Not in top shape, wanted a quick finish.

"Battle..." "What...?"

Pondering Atomic Core's use, I caught odd words. Expert rules outside academy differed—like direct attacks. But no attacks on first turn, even in expert.

Yet, 'battle'?

"Preemptive Antenna - Musca Premion can't have stats boosted by other card effects... But it can direct-attack the opponent even if they have creatures on field, even on the first player's turn..."

"...!"

"Go, Musca Premion! Direct-attack the opponent...! Raise the curtain on the feast of predation...!!"

Tap, tap, tap, tap. Whirrrr...

Vibrating its useless wings, [Musca Premion] bounded forward on spindly legs.

Reaching me unhindered, it rubbed its hairy arms prayerfully.

A fly's common gesture, but to me, it looked like a solemn rite.

Gurgle...

Its sponge-like maw swelled, spewing pus-colored, sickly sweet mucus at me.

"Kuh...!"

The moment the sticky fluid hit my arm, my skin burned hot, flames of agony racing along my nerves. My brain abandoned the illusion this was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠just a game.

"Master Bardi!"

So this was Pollux's 'damage materialization.' Ignoring physiological revulsion, the familiar temple-throbbing pain ground my teeth.

Just like when shrapnel cost me two fingers, damn it.

Heart pounding, pain-wracked brain replayed muffled blasts and metallic blood stench. Near-seizure convulsions.

The battlefield sensation, unforgotten after 17 years in this world.