Chapter 04: STARTING

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!! IT WILL SOON BE HELD! A SACRED CEREMONY THAT WILL DETERMINE THE DIRECTION OF THE INDARIAN KINGDOM! WILL KING GOBSHILL RETURN IN TRIUMPH OR WILL A NEW RULER EMERGE?”

I heard loud booooo from all corners. Many people were sitting on the stadium benches shaking their hands. So many that I couldn't believe my own eyes. I could hardly see any empty seats. Then, up in the sky, there were many holograms flying, showing people cheering like it was some kind of New Year's celebration festival.

Honestly, I was amazed. These people truly treated the card game like a World Cup.

It’s amazing.

“THE CHALLENGER WHO STANDING IN THE BLUE CORNER! A NAKED MAN WHO HAD NOTHING AND WAS FORCED TO BORROW USED CLOTHES!” The speaker finally appeared on the hologram screen, wiping away his tears, sympathizing with me even though I didn't need it. “HIS NAME IS RAYDICK!”

“RAYLEIGH!” I protested. The spotlight quickly illuminated my entire body. “Say that again! It’s RALEIGH!”

The speaker glanced at a memo and cleared his throat. “Well, there was a slight mistake in his name. But who cares! LET'S CONTINUE WITH OUR GREAT KING!”

Damn it! Not only the audience, but everyone in this alien kingdom will call me Raydick regardless of whether I win or lose. This is truly defamation. If I win, I will fire him!

I walked unhindered towards the podium, which was made of roughly carved boulders. Meanwhile, the soldiers who had been guarding me retreated to the edge of the field in an orderly manner. However, they were still on guard.

So basically, I couldn't let my guard down. They might attack me from behind.

“COME AND WITNESS THE DEFENDING CHAMPION! THE GREAT AND MIGHTY KING, KING GOBSHILL!”

A thunderous welcome erupted, filling the stadium and even shaking the podium I was standing on. It was a very different treatment. Maybe because he's the king.

But it was odd. Sebastian said that this green king treated his people arbitrarily, so why did everyone seem so happy with his presence?

It's fishy.

“TO THE TWO DUELISTS WHO HAVE ENTERED THE ARENA, PREPARE YOUR ASSETS!”

Huh? Assets?

Then a hologram displaying my face and Gobshill's face floated in the middle of the stadium. Under each name, the word ASSET was displayed. Then below that were the words Resource, Units, Commands, Protocol, and Signature as follows:

[RAYLEIGH ASSET]

Resources: 0

Units: 0

Commands: 0

Protocol: 0

Signature: 1

That was the information listed under my name. Meanwhile, Gobshill's numbers were extremely unbalanced.

[GOBSHILL ASSET]

Resources: 5

Units: 852,000

Commands: 134

Protocol: 13

Signature: 1

“EHHHHH? WHAT IS THIS?” exclaimed the speaker, an emcee who appeared to favor the king. “HOW CAN YOU CHALLENGE WITHOUT RESOURCES AND UNITS? HOW STUPID!”

I have decided. I will fire this loudmouth if I succeed in overthrowing King Gobshill.

“So what if I don't have any?” My voice was finally amplified by a microphone that I didn't know where it came from. “Shouldn't there be fairness in a duel? At least lend me a starter deck to play this game!”

Normally, even if you don't have a deck but want to play, the shop owner or other comrades will lend you a starter deck to use. That’s the basic common sense that they might not have. It seems that this duel was not a fair one from the start. I was careless.

“STEWWWWWPID!” He shouted and loud laughter erupted in the stadium, mocking me without restraint. I could sense that this was all planned by the Green Goblin King. To sabotage the game.

“THERE'S NO SUCH THING!” he said twice. “THIS ISN'T A GAME! THIS IS WAR! A MIGHTY DEAL THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING!”

“Then how can I play?” I shouted. “Without my own assets, this duel can't begin, right? You have no choice but to suspend the whole show.”

Waves of laughter filled the stadium again, like a tsunami that wanted to roll me alive.

The emcee clicked his tongue, his saliva splattering the hologram screen. "I've told you many times, this is not a game. The fact that you have no assets is your own fucking fault. This duel is being watched by representatives from every country, including the superpower, Capitalon! That means you’re the one who’s truly insolent! HOW DARE YOU CHALLENGE THE KING WITHOUT ANY PREPARATION! YOU ARE A FREAKING DISGRACE!”

Huh? Isn't that backwards?

I wanted to protest, but my voice was suddenly muffled. No one was listening. No one cared.

“Ten minutes! Only ten minutes! That is the time we are giving you to find ASSETS! Any longer than that, and you will be declared DEFEATED!”

Huh? What kind of cheating game is this?

Urrghhh! Damn it! What can I do in ten minutes? I don't even know where to go? Or who to ask for help—Sebastian? Ah, no. If he had any assets, he would have given them to me from the start. Because he wants me to defeat this King Goblin.

Then who should I ask for help?

I looked in every direction, shouting loudly in all of them. Surprisingly, this time the invisible microphone worked again.

This is my chance.

“If you want to defeat this evil green king, help me! Lend me your assets so this duel can begin! There is no other way! Please!”

I repeated the same sentence. Shouting it to any benches. Hoping that someone would come and hand over their assets. Or maybe, someone from another country who wanted to invest in me at this moment—ah, nope. It didn't seem to work.

No sane person would bet their asset to the losing side.

Time continued to tick away. The minutes continued to decrease. Even my mouth was dry, and the hope in my chest was also drying up.

The minutes are now gone, leaving only 59 seconds that continue to tick away.

DAMN IT! I refuse to lose in such a humiliating way!

45 sec–

Anyone, come! I will bring you the victory you dream of!

25 sec–

Anyone!

15–

Please!

–

The last three seconds... ah, damn. Even in another world, I'm not allowed to play anymore...

“OBJECTION!”

A sudden shout echoed across the field, silencing the noise—which had been filled with insults and laughter directed at me—as the giant chicken landed in front of me.

The last three seconds froze in the air. The spotlight now revealed the chicken's rider. A maiden in extravagant attire, with an upright posture, a face full of hope, and eyes filled with the flames of rebellion.

“OOOHH! UNEXPECTED! PRINCESS CYNTHIA IS COMING INTO OUR MIDST! DON’T TELL ME SHE WILL FINALLY SUPPORT OUR KING?”

Cheers of joy filled the stadium once more. This time they were more positive and passionate. Like she was the real star today.

Princess Cynthia? The one Sebastian was talking about?

The young woman glanced at me and then turned her face towards King Gobshill. She took a scroll of paper out of her bag. A hologram displayed its contents so that everyone could see.

“One minute ago,” she declared. “I handed over my faction, including my position, wealth, soldiers, people, and territory, to the Challenger, Rayleigh. Thus, the Freedom Wing Faction has now become an official asset of the challenger. Thus, he is qualified to resume the Supreme Duel.”

She finally looked at me with her dazzling smile. She was sparkling like the sun. However, that glare filled with massive ambition. It might have burned me alive if I could deliver her wish.

I like it! Let’s make your wish come true, Princess!

Silence reigned once more. But suddenly, a shout erupted from the red corner. King Gobshill's face, which had been beaming with joy, was now red with anger.

“THAT'S CHEATING! YOU CAN'T DO THAT!”

Gobshill continued to protest to the emcee, demanding that he disqualify me immediately. But the emcee was given a memo by men in black suits from a special seat on the third floor. He then read it aloud.

“Ahem! A-all the country delegations have no problem with it, my king.” There was a hint of fear on his face. “B-but it doesn't matter! Because you won't lose, His Majesty Gobshill!”

The green king's sullen expression became animated again. He now stared at me fiercely.

“Of course! Of course I won't lose! I am the king!”

“GLORY GLORY KING GOBSHILL! GLORY GLORY KING GOBSHILL!”

“LONG LIVE MY KING! LONG LIVE MY KING!”

The stadium was once again filled with praise for him. The princess's spectacular moment was instantly silenced. However, that was fine. It was not a problem. Because, thanks to her, I was finally able to set foot on the starting line.

On the hologram screen displaying my face, all the data had been reconfigured.

Resources: 3

Units: 82,500

Commands: 11

Protocol: 3

Signature: 1

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! THE GREAT DUEL WILL BEGIN IN THREE! TWO!!”

As the countdown decrease, my body trembled violently. Excitement and fear mixed together, making me even more thrilled. Grilling my joy to the max!

This is the moment.

The first step where my unbeatable dueling skill would shake the very thrones of kings in this world.

GET READY ALL OF YOU! I AM COMING!