Chapter 06: BURNING

The third turn began.

Gobshill added cards to his hand with a five-card draw during his draw phase.

My jaw dropped when I misunderstood the basic mechanics of Supreme Holder. This is even crazier than YGO Rush, where you can draw up to five cards in your hand. No more. But this one is truly a game without any Forbidden List at all. No restrictions. It's like playing with unlimited, anime-only rules.

On one hand, it's certainly fun. But this mechanism stinks.

Because it's a mechanism that benefits people with abundant assets. A hallmark of capitalism. Something I hate with a passion.

I sighed.

Even in another world, card games are still entangled in a rotten, barbaric scheme. On Earth, I was merely a low-class worker and certainly couldn't do anything about my card game, which was despised and considered trash because it couldn't meet the target market. However, now it's different.

I am the Challenger. An entity that can shake up this new world.

I will prove it.

Here... I am different.

“Stop daydreaming!” Gobshill shouted, apparently angry that I wasn't listening to his arrogant speech.

“Yes, yes, yes. Go ahead and play your cards, King Gobshill,” I replied.

The muscles in his face tensed up and, without a care, he quickly entered the Standby Phase.

“RAISE! Goblin Bastard to level 2.”

Oh, btw, Raise is the official term for raising the level of a vessel unit. It's similar to Ride from Cardfight Vanguard. When a vessel unit levels up, the maximum level of units that can be summoned also increases. If the vessel is level two, then level two or lower units can be summoned from the hand, assets, or graveyard.

After discarding 1 card from his hand as the cost of leveling the vessel, he flashed a wicked smile. “I summon two Goblin Scavengers to the field!”

He summoned the same unit? That means there are already five duplicates.

“You must think this is stupid, right?” He laughed loudly, as if he wanted to laugh at me.

Actually, I didn't think that way. However, let him be busy with his own thoughts.

“I activate the Command [Awakening of Green King] by sacrificing two Goblin Scavengers on the field. Appear, Highlord Goblin - Gorgon!”

A five-meter-tall goblin leapt from the sky and landed on the ground, sending smoke billowing high into the air. Its face was far more terrifying than the previous goblin's, but fortunately, it wore a leather mask.

Highlord Goblin - Gorgon Lv 2

Type: Demon/Beast

Cost: 10k Human, 30k Gold, 10k Ore.

Power: 8000

Endurance: 1

Fortunately, with Duelist PoV, I could obtain basic information about the unit he summoned. It seemed to be quite strong.

“It's not over yet!” he said. "Thanks to the effect of the Command [Awakening of The Green King], this unit gains one additional Endurance until the start of my next turn. At the same time, for every Goblin Scavenger in the graveyard, the summoned unit will gain +2000 Power until the end of this battle!"

Highlord Goblin - Gorgon

Power 8000 -> 18000

Endurance: 2

Gobshill then summoned another Goblin Scavenger from his hand and prepared to attack.

“Battle! Gorgon attacks his minion!”

The Goblin Highlord charged like a madman, swinging his club and crushing my Brave Soldier. Honestly, I could have chosen to use the Reaction Command to stop his attack, but these CROWN Resources seemed far more vital than I had thought.

Wasting such important resources just to hold back a monster with 18,000 power seems like a waste. Besides, my Brave Soldier was in the Center Zone, where I wouldn't take any damage from the battle.

“HAH! Scavenger, attack him!”

The goblin minion managed to deal one damage to me. And I chose Mine to sacrifice. Unfortunately, there are no cards I can use at the moment.

“My turn is over. Enjoy! One more turn, and my strongest unit will crush you to death!”

I responded to his arrogant face with a dismissive remark. “Go ahead and try.”

The Draw Phase began, and I chose 5 cards from my Assets.

Of course, I couldn't choose cards randomly. Considering that the Highlord Goblin still had two Endurance points and was placed in the Center, I needed at least four direct attacks. However, I wasn't sure it would be that easy.

Standby Phase. My Crown increased by five. Total seven.

“Raise! Chibi Knight lv 2!”

After discarding 1 card from my hand, I summon two Great Paladins from my hand.

[Great Paladin lv 2]

Cost: 10k Human, 10k Gold, 10k Ore

Power: 8000

Endurance: 1

Two knights wearing silver armor covering their entire bodies, even their faces. A giant axe was gripped in both hands. They didn't speak, but I knew the spirit they ignited.

“Battle!” I shouted. “Great Paladin, attack Gorgon!”

The swing of the giant axe caused a vibration that made my legs go numb. Gorgon was successfully knocked down.

“Huh! You can't even do any damage to me!”

I ignored his petty provocation.

“I activate Battle Command [Warrior Legacy]—with its effect, I can destroy two or less warrior-type units on the field, then summon two Brave Soldiers from my Assets.”

Without hesitation, the two paladins saluted me. Then two Brave Soldiers jumped down from the sky. Without being ordered, they knew what to do.

One Brave Soldier attacked the Goblin Scavenger and the other attacked the Goblin Bastard directly.

“If you think I'm that stupid, think again.” Gobshill activated the Reaction Command [Emergency Fortress] from his hand.

Reaction Command is a type of command that can be activated during the opponent's turn as long as the requirements are met and the COST of one CROWN or Honor is paid.

His more cautious attitude seemed to indicate that he had learned a little.

“With its effect, I can summon a Level 1 unit from my hand.”

Another Goblin Scavenger appeared. However, the Brave Soldier swiftly slashed it down.

“Another effect of Emergency Fortress is that if the monster you summoned is defeated in battle, I can draw 1 unit that is one or two levels higher.” He laughed maniacally. “Your turn ends here. Because I'm going to use this unit to finish you off!”

He showed the card.

KING of Greed, Goblin Emperor lv 3

Cost: 100k Gold, 100k humans, 100k Ore.

Power: 10k

Endurance: 2

Restriction: This unit cannot be added to the hand except by card effect.

Finally, I saw the boss card from his goblin deck. Honestly, it was pretty cool. It's rare for goblin-themed cards to have boss monsters strong enough to play at a competitive level. I had to admit, I liked his taste. I had thought he was just a greedy green pig.

I quickly ended my turn without dealing any damage. Even so, my hand was filled with cards ready to be used on his turn.

And Gobshill's turn quickly began.

He added five more cards from his assets. Then he let out a booming, shrill laugh that made even the hairs on my armpits stand on end for a moment.

“You!” he said. “I'll crush you this turn!”

He upgraded Goblin Bastard to level three, then its special effect activated.

“Goblin Bastard's effect! When it is successfully upgraded to level three or its multiples, my CENTER unit can attack twice. In addition, my unit will not be destroyed when attacked by a unit with the same power.”

Oh... that's pretty scary.

“Then,” he said. “I activate Protocol on the field. RISING GREED OF GLUTTONY KING!”

RISING GREED OF GK - Protocol Card

Effect:

[While on the field, For every 100k GOLD in your resources, increase the power of all your goblin units on the field by 2000.]

With that, all goblin units he controls will get an easy +18000 power increase. What a cheat code.

Yet, it depends on how he will play his units now. If he summons more units with level 3 or higher, the buff will get reduced by one or two levels. He clearly will summon his Goblin King.

“With this, all my preparations are complete! I summon the Goblin Emperor to the Center!”

The clear sky turned dark. Lightning flashed. The roar of the wind was like a storm coming, sweeping across the field. A violent tremor shook the entire area. The ground cracked. The pillars shook. Until the cracks in the ground burst open.

Not from the sky, the Goblin Emperor climbed out of the ground.

His appearance was extremely repulsive. The green color on his skin was proof of his boundless greed. Wearing only underwear, he still wore his crown and luxurious robe. His body was fat and large, so he had to be guided by eight royal goblins on his throne.

“This is the perfect embodiment of my desires! Witness this, you barbaric challenger! You are a worthless pebble!”

Gobshill summoned two High Goblins to the arena. With that, he entered the Battle Phase. The controlled units naturally received a power-up of 16,000 from his Protocol. This was because the Goblin Emperor's cost was 100k Gold. The amount is not much, but it helps.

Goblin Emperor Lv 3

Power: 26000 (Base 10000)

Endurance: 1

Roughly calculated, he has a total of 4 attacks. Two with the Emperor and two with the Gorgon. I might only take one hit.

“Battle! Gorgon, attack him!”

The first Gorgon immediately hit Brave and destroyed him, but I didn't just stand there.

I activated the Reaction Command from my hand! [Battle Formation]. With this effect, I can move warrior units from other zones to the center.

His face wrinkled. He was getting angrier.

“You think that can save you, huh?”

He directed the second Gorgon to slash my brave Soldier to pieces. Now there was nothing left. If the Goblin Emperor's attack hit me, it would be the end of me.

“EMPEROR ATTACK!”

Escorted by his eight loyal soldiers, the Goblin Emperor arrived before me and struck the Chibi Knight without hesitation with his golden mace, causing thick smoke to billow into the air.

I took one hit. I sacrificed the city. As a result, my resources were reduced by half.

[Humans: 35k]

[Gold: 30k]

Gobshill laughed loudly, mocking me like a wild dog caught in a hunter's trap.

“You will die here! You, Barbaric human!”

The Goblin Emperor swung his golden mace once more. If it hit me, I would surely die.

“You will lose, Gobshill!” I shouted suddenly.

Gobshill was taken aback. However, the arrogant laugh did not disappear from his evil face.

“Pray! The Emperor's effect will finish you off!” he said enthusiastically. “I can banish two Goblin Scavengers in the graveyard and the Emperor can attack again! And the effect is unlimited as long as I have Scavengers in the graveyard that can be banished!”

His laughter boomed, unconcerned by my provocation.

I glanced at Princess Cynthia for a moment until her eyes widened. Perhaps she was surprised by the smile I flashed.

The Emperor's golden mace swung down and struck the ground, cracking the field and sending dust flying into the air. Gobshill's laughter added to the excitement. This was followed by cheers of victory from the audience in the stadium.

Then everything stopped. As if their breath was stuck in their throats.

The golden mace did not actually hit the Chibi Knight.

A determined woman with eyes that burned with revolutionary spirit stood up and held the giant mace with one finger.

All eyes were wide with shock. They couldn't believe what they were seeing.

“P-PRINCESS CYNTHIA IS SUMMONED TO THE FIELD!” the announcer shouted, representing everyone's surprise.

All eyes were fixed on her. Except for one.

Princess Cynthia stared at me fiercely.