Chapter 19: LFG


    <hr>


    My stats log showed I’d thrown a [1/7] card that hit Kaito. I''d consciously tried to throw lower attack and defense cards, but that was the highest defense score. What was the difference? Did lower risk and higher reward cards mean I could aim them better with the effects Sora had demonstrated?


    Kaito lay in bed on his stomach, Kitty beside him as she licked his burns. I shuddered, thinking about how much more damage I wouldn''t have inflicted if he wasn''t wearing the armored vest. Sora’s hands glowed with Zii-Kata as she worked on healing the deep purple bruising covering his entire back.


    “Kaito, are you okay?” I asked, stricken with guilt.


    He lifted his head, a tired but genuine smile on his face.


    “Yeah, I’m okay. That was a good shot.”


    “Indeed," Sora scoffed. "You’re finally figuring things out, Ember,”


    “Kaito, I’m sorry I lost control.”


    “Don’t be. It was impressive. I knew you’d get it.”


    Hikari entered the room, carrying a tray.


    “I brought some tea and snacks,” she announced. “Thought you could use a break.”


    She handed us cups of steaming tea and a plate of sweet rice cakes. Hikari offered Sora a plate, but she was finished.


    “Kaito, you’ll need a day for the healing to take hold,” she stood. “Don’t get too comfortable, especially you, Ember. There’s still a lot of work to be done. But I’ll let you have your moment.”


    Sora left the room, her presence lingering as always. Hikari settled beside us, her cheerful demeanor a welcome change.


    “Thanks, Hikari,” I said, sipping the tea. “I needed this.”


    “Of course. And Kaito’s been hit with worse. If he won, we’d never hear the end of it.”


    “My sister makes the best rice cakes, and she''s not wrong,” Kaito winced, sitting up to pet Kitty. “But it’s not every day that I get bested by a beginner.”


    “I’ll take that as a compliment,” I laughed, hugging him. “Never change Kaito. Never change.”


    * * *


    Day [26/40]


    Time Remaining Until Execution: [26 Days]


    I slipped into the training room alone. Pressing a Zii coin into a small stand, the room reset twelve target dummies in three rows of four. Each dummy was carved from wood and looked more like Demi-Golems wearing oversized armor.


    I tossed a card at the nearest dummy. It fluttered flat, slapped the target in the face, and floated to the floor.


    Okay, Ember, it''s time to try something different. Remember what happened with Kaito and Hikari…


    With a breath, I closed my eyes and let my imagination take the reins. In my mind, the front row of dummies transformed into allies, while the back row became enemies, which I envisioned as Samurai.


    I fired the first card, a [2/6], and it found its mark, thudding into the chest of a Samurai dummy before vanishing in a puff of red smoke. Encouraged, I threw another, a [1/5], curving it through the air to strike another Samurai with a concussive blast.


    Each card was spun for a higher defense score. And with every throw, I focused on letting Zii flow through me and into the cards, freeing myself from thoughts of success or failure. Don’t do, Em—just be.


    The trajectory of the cards adjusted with subtle shifts of my arm and fingers. It wasn’t about what was before me but how I visualized it. It was seeing and selecting the path, marked by red vectors before the card took flight. Each throw became more precise than the last, with a random effect. Some curved and flashed, others ignited with flames, but they all found their mark.


    A notification pinged.


    FEAT ACHIEVED: SHURIKEN TECHNIQUE [NINJA]


    You have learned to throw Jingozi cards as shuriken.


    <ul>


    <li>


    Curve Shot


    </li>


    <li>


    Ricochet Shot


    </li>


    <li>


    Boomerang Shot


    </li>


    <li>


    Flutter Shot


    </li>


    <li>


    Delayed Shot


    </li>


    <li>


    Stun Shot


    </li>


    <li>


    Concussive Shot


    </li>


    <li>


    Smoke Bomb


    </li>


    <li>


    Flare Shot


    </li>


    <li>


    Flash Shot


    </li>


    <li>


    Piercing Shot


    </li>


    <li>


    Explosive Shot


    </li>


    <li>


    Fire Shot


    </li>


    </ul>


    I took a moment to catch my breath, feeling the rush of newly learned skills coursing through me. I pressed another Zii coin into the control panel. The dummies reset, new and pristine, ready for another round.


    As the dummies reappeared, I examined my hand. I''d stay with higher defense scores this time but focus on the effects.


    Okay, let’s see how these babies perform...


    I tossed the first card, a stun shot, at the closest dummy. The card glided through the air gracefully, striking the target with a soft thud before erupting in a blinding flash of light.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Not lethal, but definitely effective.


    I could feel the flow of Zii connecting better as I launched a series of cards. The ricochet shot bounced off one dummy and struck another in a beautifully orchestrated arc. With each throw, the resistance I felt earlier began to fade. The defense score on the cards translated into more significant control over their trajectories and effects.


    I switched up my attacks, throwing a smoke bomb. It released a cloud that obscured my vision. Next, I tossed a fire shot, igniting the very edge of the smoke cloud. The flames flickered and danced, creating an illusion of danger.


    I unleashed the rest of my cards one by one, marveling at the effectiveness. Though non-lethal, each card flew true, and their effects delivered tremendous damage in creative ways.


    It’s as if I''m painting a canvas, I mused, executing a boomerang shot that returned to my hand after striking multiple targets with satisfying thuds. The dummies fell one by one, their reinforced wooden bodies not shattered but splintered. It showcased what could be accomplished with finesse over sheer force.


    When the dust settled, only stalks of splintered wood remained, and the dummies were reduced to smoldering rubble. Lazy trails of smoke clouded the room.


    DEFENSE META UNLOCKED


    Gain special abilities and buffs when playing battle cards with a higher defense score during PVE.


    Do you choose the defense meta?


    There is only one meta allowed per player.


    This choice is permanent.


    [Yes/N0]


    Yes.


    YOU ARE NOW DEFENSE META


    A floating Jingozi deck box materialized before me.


    DO YOU WISH TO LOOT THE JINGOZI CARD BOX?


    [Yes/No]


    Another yes. The chest opened, displaying three Ninja cards in the silk padding.


    YOU HAVE RECEIVED A JINGOZI BUFF CARD


    This upgrade card will add a passive bonus to your entire deck.


    Option 1: Multi-Attack


    Play up to 5 cards in one turn during PVE.


    Each card costs a minimum of 2 Zii.


    Does not affect spell cards.


    Option 2: Defend/Reward +1


    All your cards receive a +1 defense bonus during PVE, increasing rewards.


    Bonus: Defend +2 if you have chosen the defense meta.


    Option 3: Expand Hand


    Preview the top 5 cards in your deck and draw one into your hand.


    Costs 1 Zii.


    Bonus Action: Place one card at the bottom of your deck for 1 extra Zii.


    Sora must have option one, which was enticing. However, the Zii cost was a concern. Option two aligned with my metagame. Finally, option three was definitely tempting.


    I picked option two.


    DO YOU SELECT [OPTION 2: DEFEND/REWARD +1]?


    All your cards receive a +1 defense bonus during PVE.


    Bonus: Defend +2 if you have chosen the defense meta.


    This choice is permanent.


    [Yes/No]


    Yes, yes, I do.


    YOU HAVE RECEIVED A DEFEND +2 BUFF


    All your cards receive a +2 defense bonus during PVE.


    Let’s fucking go.


    Sora stepped into the room and paused to survey what was left of the dummies.


    “You’re needed in the prison cell today for interrogation,” she said.


    “Of course, Sora. I’m ready.”


    Before leaving, I checked my stats.


    STATUS:


    Name: Ember [Doctrine Dealer]


    Tier: I [Iron] Rank 3


    Faction: Ninja [Field]


    Zii: 72/100


    Cards: 10/36


    Deck Upgrades:


    <ul>


    <li>


    Defend/Reward +2 Buff


    </li>


    </ul>


    Meta: Defense


    Attack: -


    Defense: +2


    Buff: -


    Special:


    <ul>


    <li>


    Shuriken Technique [Ninja]


    </li>


    </ul>


    * * *


    The Ninja twins escorted me back to my Samurai prison. During the exchange, I managed to sneak in a quick hug with my double, whispering, “Thank you.” She held me tightly in return.


    A few hours later, Jon Deerfoot strolled into the room alone.


    “How are your accommodations?” he asked, surveying my quarters with slight disdain.


    “I’ll manage,” I said.


    Sora instructed me to be short with my answers and not reveal any significant detail. I was to feign ignorance and claim innocence.


    “I’ll get to the point,” the elf started. “With word the caravan was missing, the Samurai deployed a search party before you arrived in Raishoto. I, of course, have an inside man amidst their ranks. A little birdie that loves to chirp, incentivized with enough coin, of course."


    "And?"


    "They tracked all the Samurai tokens to a gruesome battle scene in the forest several days north—quite the adventure you must’ve had. The entire area was scorched and charred. A Blight Golem was dispatched, and its remains were examined. I loathe even to imagine how nasty that would’ve been.”


    “Oh?”


    “Yes, indeed, my dear. But then they found a worn trail and two camps. The first was a burrow with three old piles of ash—a Jingozi dealer on their trials—yours, I presume. The next was a small clearing with old blood, but their trackers say it would have been an adult wearing armor and a smaller companion—most likely a child. But the trail ran cold from there.”


    “So, you know I’m telling the truth.”


    “Well, it appears there are three conclusions,” he said, glancing back at the guards. “The first possibility is you found and killed them, stealing the scroll and Samurai faction token. The second is you’re telling the truth, and they’re still alive. The third is you’re telling the truth, and you left them to die.”


    “And why the hell would I do that? A boy is more important than a scroll.” my poker face disappeared. I was losing my cool to the elf''s amusement.


    “In the meantime, it appears the Ninja faction has chosen to make an example of you,” his pointy ears perked. “There’s been a demand for your release, followed by a series of high-profile crimes across the city. The prevailing message is that the Shogun is so cruel that he will execute anybody, even the ones that come to his aid.” He paused to rub his chin. “What I don’t understand is if you are, in fact, a member of the Ninja faction, why not negotiate? And why would you help the Samurai faction and Yukiko in the first place?”


    “Yukiko?”


    “Oh yes, to be thorough, they visited your friend Yukiko. I hear she is one tough battle axe—my kind of woman.”


    I clasped the bars. The guards charged their taser spears, but Jon waved them off.


    “Yukiko claims you were a tribute—a consort she freed from a northern Emperor. But that doesn’t make sense. Either Yukiko didn’t realize you were a Jingozi apprentice, or she did and had a plan to betray the Shogun.”


    “Why do you care so much?”


    “Well, my dear Ember. I now have an extra incentive. You see, I’m a member of the Emperor faction. If you were taken from us, my people should know something. I’m sure there’s a fellow Emperor who would reward me handsomely.”


    I managed to bite my tongue.


    “Come now, love,” he said. “We can end this right now. Give the Shogun what he wants. I’ll collect the bounty and leave you with the Samurai. We can forget the entire part about betraying the Emperor faction.”


    I turned my back.


    “Suit yourself,” he sighed. “I do have to warn you. The Shogun gets impatient. I was your last chance before he sends in other interrogators with more… persuasive tactics.”


    * * *


    After hours of Zii-Kata, the floating card formed before me.


    “Hey, voice?” I called.


    “Yes?”


    “You said I can influence the area where my dimensional circle overlaps another, right?”


    “Correct.”


    I touched the spell card after loading my hand.


    Dozens of severed, slimy zombie hands sprouted from the ground, their decaying flesh wrapping around my arms, legs, and torso. Each grip was a vice. Wherever they touched, the skin began to rot.


    The hands climbed higher, causing my face to decay and stifling my breathing. I was wrestled to the ground, my back slamming against the hard floor. More hands emerged, pummeling me from all sides.


    Rot filled my nostrils. My heart pounded in my ears as my vision blurred. One hand forced itself down my throat. Resisting the instinct to blink out, I flicked a max-charged card into the air. It boomeranged back, slicing through my cheek while severing the hand. It disintegrated into smoke, leaving a vile taste.


    As I fought to roll onto my front, other hands grappled me down, their grip relentless, overwhelming me with numbers. One hand slammed me in the mouth again, dislodging several teeth.


    “No!”


    A sonic boom erupted from within, sending shockwaves that disintegrated all the hands into ash. I remained still for a moment, spitting teeth before they lodged in my throat.


    Rising to my knees, panting, the remnants of smoke swirling around me with the bitter taste of tar in my bloody mouth. My skin drooped like melting wax.


    As I blinked out of the arena, the voice said, “Well done, Ember, now you’re starting to get it.”


    YOU HAVE RECEIVED A POWER CARD


    Poison Strike


    <ul>


    <li>


    PVP: Pay 1 Zii to plus +1 attack/risk or defend/reward (maximum +3).


    </li>


    <li>


    PVP: Pay 1 Zii to plus +1 attack/risk or defend/reward (maximum +3).


    </li>


    </ul>