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Singing Chips
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Ceridwen looks at the new card in her hand and her snout twists into an irritated pout.
Had it shown earlier in the game, it would have been quite useful, but as it stands, it doesn’t look like it would last much longer, making it feel rather redundant.
She considers simply ignoring it, then suddenly remembers the card’s secondary effect and considers the current state of the board, both on her end as well as her obsessively opulent opponent’s.
Seeing nothing wrong with being on the safe side, and having no other choices left, unable to attack as she is, Ceridwen makes a decision.
“I summon Egg of Diamonds in defense mode!” She says, placing the character card on the table.
[Egg of Diamonds, 2 stars, Type: Egg, 0 ATK, 200 DEF]
“Which I choose to crack right now to summon Pesi, the Skull, in defense mode,” she adds.
Upon saying this, the egg breaks in half, a pale smoke and a soft hissing noise emanating from within. As the smoke clears, a jet black lizardwoman with a dolphin’s tail, bone-white markings and curves for days stands proudly over the shell’s remains, tapping her skull-tipped staff on the table.
[Pesi, the Skull, 4 stars, Type:Lizard/Waterfolk, 1000 ATK, 1000 DEF]
“And I will use one of her ritual effects to take control of your rat in exchange for half my life points.”
“Ritual effects?” Strawberi arches an eyebrow.
“She may not have much in attack or defense, but Pesi is a powerful sorceress, which gives her several spells for me to use. Look.” Ceridwen explains, moving Pesi’s card to Strawberi’s side of the table so she and Warwick can read it.
During either of the controlling player’s main phases, and up to once per turn, Pesi, the Skull may cast one of the following effects:
Rite of Fertility: If another character under your control appears capable of laying eggs, Pesi will summon an X amount of token egg characters on your side of the field, with X amount not exceeding the number of character slots available at that time. Said eggs all count as Egg-Type, with 0 ATK and one-fifth of the DEF points of the character selected to spawn them. Each egg may be sacrificed at any time to give you a number of life points equal to its DEF points. Pesi, the Skull may not cast any special effects for 2 of your turns after casting this ritual.
Rite of Transformation: All characters on your side of the field are indefinitely transformed into Volins like Pesi, which makes them Lizard/Waterfolk Type until the end of the game, or until this ritual is counteracted. You may also make a drawing of said characters as Volins on top of their existing card art! Uh.. provided it can be erased once the effect ends. Pesi, the Skull may not cast any special effect for 1 of your turns after casting this ritual.
Rite of Mind Control: Select a character on the opposing player’s control, in exchange for half of your current life points, place said character on your side of the field under your control until for 1 turn.
“Hmm, I see,” Strawberi mutters, taking her eye away from the magnifying glass.
“Err, may I give it a read as well, Miss Strawberi,” Warwick asks.
“Fine, but I will not hold the lens for you,” Strawberi says, tossing the magnifying glass in the air, which Warwick deftly catches with his mouth, the numerous knick-knacks in his arms barely shaking.
“Sorry for the wait, my dear rival,” Strawberi continues, “You may go on with your.. peculiar tactic.”
“Rude,” Ceridwen replies, “But, yeah, I’ll take.. huh?”
“Yeah, I’m already here,” Eugene says, now standing on Ceridwen’s side of the field.
“Oh, nice,” Ceridwen says.
“I also took the life points you promised,” Eugene adds with a cheeky smile.
“Figures.”
Ceridwen now has 1100 life points.
“But I won’t be using his coin flip ability,” Ceridwen continues, “I just don’t want you to use it in your turn.”
“Oh, that’s quite alright. The HELP or SABOTAGE effect only comes to play during the owner’s turn anyway,” Strawberi says with a wry smile.
“Oh, I see.”
“And it must be activated during each of my turns, not just when it’s convenient for me… or for you.”
“Oh..OH.. I did not know that.”
“Oh, poor, careless Ceridwen, you really should pay more attention to what’s written on the cards.”
“You didn’t show me what was written on the card!” Ceridwen protests.
“You had plenty of time to read it once you stole it from me, brigand!” Strawberi protests back.
“I only did that right n… why complain about stealing when you… I…. you can’t… ugh, fine, I’ll end my turn; toss the coin… But don’t call me a brigand!”
“I believe your nature makes it plain enough for anyone,” Strawberi says as she draws a new card. Ceridwen harrumphs loudly.
Once again, Strawberi flips her cherished coin and once again, her grandnanny shows her favor with her family’s signature smile.
“All as it should be,” Strawberi raises her chin, pleased, “Hmm. Now, I believe the circumstances merit I once cast a defensive barrier to-
“Um, my lady, if I may interrupt,” Warwick interrupts, “ I think stalling like this will not work much longer. Our luck is bound to run out sooner or later.
“Then what effect do you suppose I should pick, servant?” Strawberi asks, half annoyed and half curious.
“Well…”
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Genevieve looks at the duel with a mix of interest and incredulity.
Warwick and Strawberi are yet again arguing over their next move, and this time they are no longer trying to be discreet about it. From her seat, she can easily make out their indecisiveness.
“Maybe those extra life points would help, if we have anything to back them up with.”
“That would still leave us with barely more than 3000 life points. The dragon alone has more attack than that, and I only have one 6 star character at hand.”
“We can also use Eugene’s effect to summon it, and then use the new character’s special effect to help us!”
“I don’t think that’d work. And she would likely destroy it with one character and attack with the others anyway.”
“..Maybe the extra three cards would help?”
“Could be, but if they are a bad draw, she would still pummel us. No, I think using the barrier again is our best choice.”
“Are you sure, Miss Strawberi? She could draw something that counteract it next turn.”
“Yes, but what choice do we have?”
“Wow, they really are between a rock and a hard place,” Conway says to Genevieve over the din of the other onlookers, “those are some good card effects, but that dragon lady really put those two in a bind.”
“Yes..” Genevieve agrees, still staring at the dueling table.
A bind indeed. Ceridwen’s egg-hatching strategy had truly paid off, and now her One Dragon Army, large enough to reach eye level with the players at the table, was ready to deal the final blow, with at least two other characters backing it up.
Considering they had been the ones to take her out the tournament, Genevieve feels she would be happy about this. And yet, she cannot help but think this isn’t really quite right. Maybe it has something to do with camaraderie born of a good game; perhaps it would be a blow to her pride to be defeated by those who can in turn be brought down so easily; maybe it’s because she feels a sense of responsibility to this quirky odd couple duo…
Or, if nothing else, maybe it is that the best bet was so glaringly obvious.
With a sudden motion, Genevieve jerks forward.
“Hey!” she yells, startling Conway and making all three duelists turn their heads in her direction, “Draw the 3 cards! You’ll have more chances if you draw the cards!”
“How are you so sure?” says Strawberi after a moment’s hesitation, putting her hands on her hips. “There is no guarantee it can get us something that can stop all her attacks.”
“You and Warwick built that deck together, you had plenty of good cards when you defeated me. I’m sure there is something there that can stall her better than just a barrier!” Genieveve raises her voice further over the annoyed groans of the audience.
“Please don’t try assisting the duelists,” Companionship says kindly yet clearly from the rafters. “It disrupts the game and can give a sense of unfairness for the other players.”
“What if nothing there helps?” Strawberi asks, in a tone that conveys an end to the conversation.
“Do you have any better ideas?” Genevieve asks in kind.
Strawberi and Warwick look at each other for a second, after which Strawberi turns to look at her deck, an expression of defeated consternation forming on her face for once.
“Well, here goes nothing,” she says, drawing the three cards. She looks at them a moment, her eyes widening for an instant, “...Oh.”
“...Miss Strawberi?” Warwick asks with a worried expression.
“I think I’ve got an idea,” she replies.
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