Chapter 146: Chapter 145: Pairing Off

The next couple of days passed by rather quickly, with Aurivy and Leowynn pulling me into one game after another. Sometimes, we’d play the pre-installed games that had come with the new system, and other times they would have us play a game that they created or brought from the world below. Eventually, even the other goddesses became interested and got involved, until finally Tubrock couldn’t hold back his curiosity as well.

Right now, we were in the last game that we all were going to play before I went back down to be Tebor once again. We were playing Keeper’s Cards, which thankfully allowed for any number of players. Which was good, because there weren’t a whole lot of games from the world below that could work for twelve players.

The premise of the game was actually pretty simple. As part of everyone’s ‘deck’, they set aside cards to determine the stats of their world, such as culture, magic, technology, and so on. Then, when the game began, there would first be a preparation phase and an invasion phase.

In the preparation phase, the players would be matched up in pairs randomly for the invasion, and the roles for it would be set. Then, each player could play five ‘action cards’ for how they prepare for the invasion. This could range between fast forwarding to recover a lost population, training heroes, or discovering new technologies.

Finally, the invasion phase began. This was where the real meat of the game took place. The invading player would choose whether they wanted to go all-in, use an elite strike, or take a pass. If they chose either of the first two, then they play whatever cards they ‘invest’ into their attack.

For each invasion, the defender has a large advantage, because they have all of their cards to play to fight back. Furthermore, if they defeat the invasion, then they get to keep any cards that were not destroyed in the process to strengthen their world. However, if they lose the invasion, then their entire deck goes towards the invading player.

Right now, most of the players had been eliminated, with only Bihena and Ryone left in the finals. Each one had acquired a total of six worlds, so they had a lot of options for every attack. At the same time, though, that made it harder to determine a victor.

“Alright…” Bihena took a deep breath as she organized her cards. It was her turn to attack, so she reached down for her action card. “I go all-in!” They had been going back and forth for a few rounds with no clear winner, so while all-in was a risky tactic that could leave her open for a counter on Ryone’s next turn, it was the only chance either one had to win.

As she made her decision, the cards laid out before her began to float up into the air, forming a wall between Bihena and Ryone. These were all of the cards Bihena could invest into her attack. However, Ryone didn’t panic. She smiled calmly as she declared her first line of defense, a move that she had used to defeat most of the invasions so far..

“I activate the runic colossi.” Six cards floated up to meet the wall that Bihena had summoned. However, Bihena simply laughed in response.

“Figured as much. Let’s just see how this goes then.” She grinned mischievously, as one by one the six cards that Ryone had played dimmed, falling helplessly to the floor. They weren’t alone, however, as several cards from Bihena’s wall fell as well.

“W-what? How’d you do that?” Ryone’s expression changed, showing the shock at her defensive line being taken down. Only now did she notice one card near the center of the wall, realization dawning on her. “You cheeky girl… you got a magic disruptor…”

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Bihena smiled knowingly, nodding her head at that. “That’s right. This has gone on long enough.”

As if of their own will, cards from Ryone’s side began shooting up, one by one to try to fight back the invading wall. However, each card dimmed like the last, helplessly falling back down. Soon, even the final cards, the ones that represented her world itself, began to dim. When the last light went out, all of the cards began to neatly arrange themselves, sliding along the floor to join Bihena’s own cards.

“Good game.” Ryone gave a soft smile as she extended a hand towards Bihena, who happily shook it.

“I’m not the goddess of battle for nothing, you know.” She teased lightly, shaking her head. With the game officially over, the cards faded away as if they had never been there. The rest of us gave a round of applause, and I stepped forward to join the two of them.

“Well, everyone. As much fun as this has been, I’ve got to be heading back now.” My words were met with a few nods, some more reluctant than others. Leowynn in particular gave a sad sigh as she stepped forward, walking towards me before turning into a grey mist to enter my spiritual world again. “We’ll be back to play again later. Hopefully sooner this time.”

“Just make sure to keep yourself safe.” Irena said softly from the group, shaking her head. “We’ll all be watching over you.”

“Well, they will, at least.” Tubrock huffed with a light laugh. He lifted a hand, and one of the Keeper’s Cards appeared in it. “‘Dis little thing gave me an idea, so I’m gonna go see ‘bout makin’ it myself.” Before he turned away, I was able to get a good look at the card.

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