Cursed Draw

We call them dealers but it is an insufficient explanation.Yes, they store and deal with our cards. But in truth, these devices we dub dealers are mirrors of us. Displaying our inner strength on the outside for all the world to see. We call it a deck rank, but that too is a misnomer. Truly the rank belongs to the player. Not the cards.

-Mysteries of the Deck. Book one. Considerations on the Dealer.

Blood Of The Limitless Martyr

True Deck

Player: Soren Creed

Dealer: [Artifact] Heaven's Wings

Resonances: Divinity, Creation, Wrath

Rank: 5th [Walking God]

Library: 45 Cards

Linked Items: Eternity's Grail, Key Of The Heavens, Extinction

Chapter 7: An Unwinnable Challenge Part One

Alabaster

Alabaster let out a short howl of frustration. After a Challenge had been declared by one Deck wielder to another the magic of both artifacts shut off for five minutes, or until the Challenged party had accepted. Should they decline, the block on both decks would continue for another ten minutes.

Alley still didn’t understand how they worked but the flaming wings on the boy’s back vanished at the same time as the cards Alabaster had manifested did.

Out here with no one else around, there was no reason for either boy to observe the formality of an official Challenge, yet the stranger did anyway.

“Soren Creed,” he said, face dripping with water, eyes dripping with arrogance. “ Blood of The Limitless Martyr, Fifth Rank”. Alley’s heart sank even further. The amount of life essence a person had to cultivate to get all the way to fifth rank was utterly inhuman. The highest-ranked person Alley had ever seen had been 7th, and he was a giant shape-shifting crab.

Each rank of a deck had its own unique requirements to reach, but they all involved growing the strength of one’s own life essence. This didn’t always mean physical power, but there was no way Alabaster could hope to even hurt someone with that much essence inside them. Not without his Deck at least. But if he wanted to use his deck he needed to accept the Challenge which apparently meant facing a fifth-rank Deck. He believed it, Soren had defeated Arcadia Roe the most powerful player for hundreds of miles in any direction. A woman Alley had only ever seen lose to the aforementioned giant shape-shifting crab.

There was no world in which a fifth-ranked Deck lost to a twelfth-ranked one, but Alley had more faith in his cards than his meathook. He had trained with his family and Darius' his whole life. Alabaster knew he wasn’t short on skills in a fight, but they wouldn’t help. That level of life essence meant the blonde boy could bleed out every drop of blood in his body, and suffer nothing more than a headache.

Alley could always decline the Challenge and run, should decline the challenge and run. Even if this Creed person was an overflowing well of life, he might not have the ability to chase Alabaster down. Especially as his wings seemed to be tied to his Deck somehow. All it would mean was letting the man who wiped his entire village off the map walk away unscathed.

Noticing he still gripped the hook hard enough to turn his knuckles white Alley hooked it to his belt again and responded.

“Alabaster Roe, Aegis Of The Fisher Lord, Twelfth Rank.” He said through gritted teeth. “ and I accept.”

Less than a second after the words had left Alley’s mouth a beam of translucent blue light fired from his bracer. It was met by a similar beam emanating from a strange burning amulet that had appeared on Soren’s chest.

Where the two lances of energy collided a wall of the same incorporeal energy sprang up from the ground. As with every Challenge, the barrier was just under ten feet high, and just over thirty-five feet across. When it hit these dimensions the wall split, rising up in a rectangular shape around the two boys.

Within five seconds the Challenge arena had arisen. In total, it was a roughly eighty-foot-long hollow rectangle of translucent blue light, split in the middle by a barrier, one boy on either side.

Creatures, spells, and the effects of relics could cross the inner wall, but not the outer ones. Players couldn’t cross either.

“Alabaster Roe?” Asked the blonde boy idly. “Are you another of Arcadia’s children?” Alley didn’t respond, but the other boy went on anyway.

“Despite her weak rank, your mother was a real talent. I was disappointed your sister didn’t even have a deck, I thought she still might make a good card.” He wrinkled his nose for a second as he searched for the words. “ You know as if she might have inherited some of that skill anyway. I was wrong.”

Alley muttered something the other boy couldn’t hear. “What's that?” he asked, tilting his head.

“I said,” Alley hissed. “ I am going to kill you.”

The blonde boy smirked and brushed some wet hair out of his face.

“Well you had best be about it then I suppose, since your rank is lower you go first.” The way he had said lower dripped with mockery.

Making no effort to calm himself, Alley held up his bracer. The ante function activated on its own, as it did every Challenge.

A random card was selected by the dealer and projected for both players to see. It was the card Alley risked as part of the Challenge. In a few moments, his enemy’s dealer would do the same. Whoever lost the match would lose the card from their Deck to their opponent.

Normally Alley paid extremely close attention to whatever card he was risking, but today he found he didn’t care. He would either kill Soren and lock his whole Deck for five years. Or he would die and lose the entirety of his.

Still, he glanced at his deck projection. Any other day he would have winced, It was one of his rarest and most powerful cards.

Deck- Aegis Of The Fisher Lord

Coal To Diamonds

Resonances: Pressure

Spell

Cost: 1 Vial

[Play only during your turn and outside of the Battle Phase]

Evolve all Creatures in play under your control to their next Version.

[Effect lasts one hour or the remainder of the Challenge]

A few seconds later the same process repeated from Soren’s Deck. This Alley did pay close attention to. Any information he could glean about his opponent before the match started was valuable. Another instinct instilled in him by his mother, even through the shock and rage some habits were too deeply ingrained to ignore.

Deck- Blood Of The Limitless Martyr

Constructed Crusader

Resonances: Divinity, Wrath, Mechkin

Cost: 1 Vial

Power: 3500

Vitality: 1

He gaped at the creature card, thirty-five hundred power was monstrously high. That thing could hack down a MuckDwell Dragon with ease. ‘It doesn't matter.’ Alley reminded himself. ‘It's not even in play, it's just in the library, I go first I can take control of the match.’

There was a short delay in which the players had a chance to inspect the ante card and prepare themselves. It was less than a minute, but Alley couldn’t stop himself from pacing. He was beyond caring about the difference in ranks, beyond caring about the danger to his own life. He had this one chance to hurt the person who had taken everything from him, and he was restless to begin.

For his part Soren remained dead still, radiating an arrogant calm.

Alley let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding when his hand was finally dealt, and the images of the cards appeared in front of him.

‘Enraged Glaive fish, Shelled Defense, RiverRush Scuttler, Abominable Flounder, DockSide Gull’

Angry as he was, his first instinct was to play the Glaive Fish as it was easily the most powerful and aggressive card in his hand. That wasn’t the right play, he knew it wasn’t. Revenge would come with winning, and winning wasn’t going to happen if he didn’t play every move correctly.

“RiverRush Scuttler” He declared, gesturing directly in front of himself.

Deck- Aegis Of The Fisher Lord

RiverRush Scuttler

No Cost

Power: 900

Vitality: 2

As though adapting to the aggression Alley was feeling, the Deck manifested his wolf-sized crab right up against the barrier between his field and Creed's.

It was only then that Alabaster saw, and finally understood what he was up against.

At the same time that the hands of both players were being dealt their respective Dealers were activating the final touches to come fully alive.

For Alabaster, this meant two blood-red gems appeared on his silver bracer. Soren on the other hand all but transformed. On his chest the burning icon appeared, followed briefly by his flaming wings, and halo, finally his green eyes became the same orange glow of the flames.

But all of that was nothing compared to the boy’s vials. They hung behind him in the air like a curtain of glowing jewels. One hundred and twenty-eight Vials, minus whatever he had used in his battle with Arcadia. It was still an astonishing number, blotting Alley’s view of his destroyed home behind Soren. With that kind of essence on hand, there might not be a single free card in the blonde boy’s deck.

With a mental push, Alley ended the first creation phase of his turn. Instantly a new card appeared in his hand to replace the RiverRush Scuttler. ‘Land of Rivers’ A strong draw. He would play it in just a moment. Creature cards couldn’t attack on the first turn they were manifested, so he skipped the war phase.

The Scuttler was a weak card power-wise, but it had two vitality. This meant as an opening turn play it was solid as it should survive long enough to support other monsters and effects that Alley would be playing in the following turns. If it didn’t it would have in theory cost Soren spells or abilities that would be better served elsewhere.

In his second creation phase; the last phase before his turn ended Alley activated the Land of Rivers spell card he had drawn.

“The Land Of Rivers”

Deck- Aegis Of The Fisher Lord

The Land Of Rivers

Resonances: Water

Land Manipulation Spell- Continuous

No Cost

While this spell remains in play Creature that have both the Water and Beast Resonances gain 200 Power

When the spell activated and the Card vanished from his hand the Arena began to change. Lush green grass, far more vibrant than anything that grew on Cursed Isle, sprouted at random points around the muddy Arena. Mere seconds later These same areas rose from the ground, creating rocky green outcroppings. In turn, water began to flow as though from nowhere, rushing from atop the outcrops and splashing down onto the Arena in tiny waterfalls. From there the liquid flowed across the Arena saturating the ground and the shoes of both players.

The power of Alley’s RiverRush Scuttler rose to 1100.

“ I end my turn” He hissed at the Creed boy and drew his final card of the turn.

‘Lobster Trap.’

Soren looked at the crab monster for a long moment before letting out a sigh. “ I suppose two exciting battles in one day would be too much to ask this far from civilization. “

Alabaster didn’t respond, but he could feel his teeth locking together. The sheer callousness of his opponent’s words was infuriating. How could he speak like that? As though the utter destruction of everything and almost everyone Alley had ever known somehow owed him entertainment.

“ Really I should be grateful I won’t be stuck crushing ants all day, Beacon Of Benevleonce.”

Seven of the vials behind the boy vanished, and the Monster manifested above Soren’s head. It was a huge angelic being with no facial features, just glowing eyes. From the being beams of light fired out congealing into the form of a glowing sword, which the Monster took up.

Deck- Blood Of the Limitless Martyr

Beacon Of Benevolence

Resonances: Divinity, Creation, Sky

Cost: 7 Vials

Power: 6500

Vitality: 3

When Beacon Of Benevolence is Manifested you may choose any two Creature Cards in your Library and add them to your hand.

Discard one card when this effect resolves

As always the Power and vitality were visible above the head of the Creature, but its effect was not revealed. However, as the ability activated Soren was all too happy to explain what the creature did.

“Benevolence here allows me to select two creatures from my Library and add them to my hand at the cost of discarding a card in my hand.”

Creed’s eyes shone blue as he accessed his Library. Unlike the Hand, effects that interact with your full Library only happen in the vision of the person playing them.

“You might enjoy that.” He muttered before making his choices.

“At least one of us should have some fun in this Challenge.”

Alley doubted there was much of a chance of that.

Soren chose another card from his hand to discard, causing it to vanish in a flash of blue light. Sent to the crypt.

Unable to attack, he too skipped his War phase.

That reminded Alley of what he had last drawn and a little glimmer of hope sparked in his chest. He had faith in his Deck, had faith in his plays and card combinations. It didn’t matter how strong his enemy was, this Challenge had just begun, and the initiative was still his.

In his second creation Phase, Soren cocked his head as though struck by an idea. Yet he didn’t play anything, ending his turn with a dismissive wave of his hand.

Alabaster spent a few seconds glaring up at the massive winged being hovering above the Arena. Its power might be enormous, but it was still just a monster as vulnerable as any other. Besides he had trained against his mother’s TerraNullis card, which was far more powerful than this angelic Creature.

“ I play Lobster Trap and Activate its ability” He declared. The Card vanished from his hand, creating a large wooden structure to his left.

Deck- Aegis Of The Fisher Lord

Lobster Trap

Resonances: Water

Relic

No Cost

During your Creation Phase each turn you may select a Creature that was Manifested since your last turn. The chosen Creature gains status [Can Not Attack].

Until the start of your next turn

Upon its activation the trap glowed bright blue and Chains similar to those that crossed an unplayable Card appeared running from the limbs of Beacon of Benevolence to the ground of the Arena.

Alley’s opponent made a little “tch” of annoyance. “Stall tactics?” he asked, shaking his head.

“ Why waste both our time?”

Alabaster was beginning to wonder if his opponent was simply trying to bait him. No one could truly be so blase about a Challenge, no matter the disparity in rank. As such he simply refused to respond to Creed and went about the rest of his turn. Manifesting his DockSide Gull Alley was disappointed he wouldn't be able to activate its effect this turn. He was still confident it was the right play.

If Soren was annoyed by stalling, then Alley would stall all day.

Deck- Aegis Of The Fisher Lord

Dockside Gull

Resonances: Water, Featherkin, Sky

No Cost

Power: 900

Vitality: 1

For each Dockside Gull in play [Including this one] this Creature gains 100 Power.

If a Creature with the Water Resonance is destroyed while Dockside Gull is in play you search your Library for up to two copies of Dockside Gull and Manifest them.

While the Gull’s power obviously increased a second after it manifested, Alabaster opted not to explain what it did. That would just make the small bird into a target.

Ending his Creation Phase Alley drew two new Cards. It was both his copies of ‘Pack Shark Alpha,’

The Roe son was too well trained to show an outward reaction his opponent could read, but he was annoyed by the draw. ‘Where were you when I had a Pack Shark out?’

Still, his own annoyance was nothing compared to the palpable irritation radiating Creed when Alley decided to take his time during the War Phase. It was strange to him that someone with so much power had such thin composure. ‘Why was he in such a hurry?’

So naturally Alley did his best to exacerbate the issue. Umming and erring as though he was considering attacking with RiverRush Scuttler, despite them both knowing the crab stood no chance of harming the winged monster on Soren’s side of the field.

He would just be wasting one of his creature’s vitality. While there was some appeal to that as getting the crab destroyed would activate the gull’s effect, for that to work he needed Soren to attack the Scuttler on his own turn. It was simply far too obvious a trap, and when it didn’t work Alley would be in a worse position. No, playing defensively till he could create an opening was his best bet. Especially since his Lobster Trap would continue to slow down Creed’s attack. With luck, the blonde boy might grow so impatient that he would begin to make mistakes.

Alley took his time on his second Creation Phase too. Not that he had anything to play then either. He couldn’t manifest another monster and the Shelled Defense Spell Card in his hand could only be played during the enemy's turn. There were of course time limits on each phase, but Alley had been playing his whole life. He knew how long he had to work with, and pushed each phase just short of their maximum allotted time.

Alabaster’s plan to frustrate his opponent was working. Sadly there are some walls no amount of intangible advantages can breach. The gap in power between a twelfth rank Deck and a fifth rank Deck was one such wall.

Soren glared at Alley through the barrier of the Arena. His face remained sour as he began his turn, beginning Alabaster’s annihilation.

“First” he sneered

“I judge your pathetic relic and spell unworthy of wasting any more of my time. Divine Judgement.”

Deck- Blood Of The Limitless Martyr

Divine Judgement

Resonances: Divinity

Spell

Cost: 1 Vial

Destroy two non-Creature Cards.

Another vial vanished from behind Creed. Another drop in the ocean of his stored life essence. As always Alley couldn’t see what the card did upon its activation. It was however made clear extremely quickly. A massive beam the size of Alabaster’s entire side of the arena descended from the sky blotting out his vision with overwhelming blue light. For a second Alley was sure his end had come, that this spell would wipe him from existence. He screamed he couldn’t help it. Yet when the light faded it was only his lobster trap and land of rivers cards that had been destroyed.

The chains on Beacon Of Benevolence remained, and would till Alley’s next turn. But the lush outcroppings The Land Of Rivers had manifested vanished, taking the flowing streams with them. Though the water that had already flooded the ground of the arena remained. The RiverRush Scuttler’s power returned to its normal 900.

The spell effect resolved Creed moved on to manifesting his next creature.

The moment he said the words Alley’s blood ran cold.

“Next I call forth The Queen Of Rushing Waters.” He said, irritation giving way to sadistic amusement.

‘THE WHAT!?’ Came Alley’s shocked thought.