Deception: A Tactician's Card

Duel: Permafrost Vs Agony Meister

I am Liz Plasma.

I am strong.

I even surpassed my parents in terms of power.

Our family has been one of the well-known families of the whole country as a powerhouse and main defendants of our country. Our element of choice is ice, and we incapacitate any enemies with sheer coldness.

I persevered in a harsh training proposed by my father since I was a kid. It developed my efficiency in using my rune cards. Our family has the tradition of going to the mystical frozen plains located south of the country and survive there for three days without bringing any kind of rations along.

The place is exclusive only to the Plasma Clan. There's absolutely no one that would dare to enter.

Though, I did think that no one in their right mind would venture such a place.

What I experienced was harsh. I faced against Ice Mammoths, a mammoth taking residence in the place and eats frost pines, the only trees that could grow in such a harsh climate. These giant creatures have white fur and and tusks so sturdy it could break my bones with just a strike.

I did my best, and earned the rune card that often spawns inside a dark cave. It's our medal of honor, as well as our pride.

But instead of leaving there after I acquired the rune card, I stayed for month.

I know my parents would be worried after I asked them to allow me to continue training here for twenty seven more days. They eventually agreed as I convinced them by a barrage of excuses I could think of.

As a Plasma, we have the resistance against this harsh freezing weather. But in the end, it's only but a resistance, not immunity. My body is good as dead, and I could no longer muster my strength.

That's when a miracle happened.

I was resting inside the cave, shivering from the cold. A blue bird appeared at the cave's entrance out of nowhere. I tried to stood up, but I'm at my limits. I grunted as I tried my best just to stand. I'm breathing heavily, and probably due to fatigue, I couldn't use any of my rune cards except the basic [Icicle Shot].

The giant bird, as majestic as the glaciers of the South Pole -- its crystal-like body shone as if the sunlight hit it and the light got refracted, the size is about the size of an Ice Mammoth, its long, glossy tail is as white as a newly dropped snowflake -- was staring at me, merely watching my pitiful state.

"W...what are...you staring at...? I...I could still...fight...! C... Come at me!"

I acted tough, but just saying those words consumed half of my strength during that time. I don't even know if that giant bird could understand the basic language.

The bird keeps on staring.

It lasted for almost half an hour.

It was more like a staring contest to me.

"Ugh..."

My eyes gave in, and the hypothermia just made it worse. I had fallen to the ground, surrendering to my seemingly sealed fate.

"Cawwwwwww!"

Huh?

Where did that come from?

My consciousness was about to fade away. The next thing I knew, I'm feeling just fine. I opened my eyes and stood up. What I've been feeling is the same condition I had before I started the tradition.

No...

My strength's surging like crazy. I don't know what happened but— Huh? What's this?

Just in front of me is a floating rune card, glimmering. It's a sight to behold. Never before our clan got a hold of such beautiful looking rune card. It's crystal-like in appearance, just like that giant crystal bird—

"The bird! Where is it?"

I literally snapped for a moment there.

Where's the bird? Isn't it just outside the cave a moment ago? What just happened...?

In the end, my answers were unanswered—except one, that is.

I gently hold the rune card with my right.

"[Frost Phoenix], huh?"

I had mixed feelings about this.

I'm happy to gain one rare Summoning rune card.

On the other hand, it saddens me to see that I just get this card without doing an ounce effort to get it.

Keeping that in mind, I kept on training my body in both physical and rune efficiency. Throughout my life, I dedicated myself on improvement.

And yet I lost to Faze Marshall, someone who also came to a powerhouse family. I can't help it. Her burning passion melts my icy confidence. I kept on chasing her, trying to reclaim my lost honor...or not.

During our battle for the First Seat, me and Faze Marshall -- a lady that came from another prestigious family, has this wavy green hair reaching her elbows, the same height as mine, and often acts and talks politely. I don't care about the breast size. I hope it rots -- did everything we've got to grab the crown, except that I hold back.

I didn't use my Summoning rune card.

I was defeated by her [Infernal Phoenix], another Summoning rune card.

Of course she would win.

I don't know why I hold back, but it's frustrating.

So I trained once more. I trained so much that my parents were worried about me. There's nothing to worry about, it's my hobby to vent out my frustration.

Days passed by.

I'm in my classroom when I noticed a commotion outside. The reason behind it is her appearance.

It is Faze herself, standing by the door, and gestured at me to come closer with her hand. I'm honestly shocked to see her trying to converse with me.

"Could you come with me for a moment?"

I reluctantly followed.

We went to the dome-shaped building in our school. If I'm correct, this place will be a commercial building or whatever it is. We met with a guy, just an average Joe in my eyes.

He defeated us without us putting a decent fight. We just fallen to the ground. There are voices that could be heard inside my head, screaming and disrupting my senses. When I woke up, I'm already in the infirmary, together with the others who were still unconscious on their beds— All except one.

"You're up? That's a relief."

"Ugh, Faze. What happened back there?"

"I don't know either. It's the second time he dominated me in a fight. He's strong. He's stronger than I am."

"Just who is he? And why hasn't he been chosen as one of the elites?"

"I don't know much, but my parents said that he's the one who shaped them to what they are right now."

What!?

That yawning normie does!?

"His name is Yukti, the one who attacks the mind instead of physical or magical damage. His rune cards don't fall to either category. I could say that he's a golden speck of dust among all the dust in an hourglass."

•••

"Well then. Duel, commence!"

"Here I go! Manifest, [Glacial Sword of Calamity]!"

"Oh? That sword, huh?"

I'm glad that I impressed our chairperson with my sword.

It's the Plasma Clan's [Glacial Sword of Calamity]. It's a slender blue blade. It is said that this sword once created a snowstorm with just a swing. I couldn't replicate that powerful feat just yet, but I'll do my best to be recognized by this sword as worthy to use it in its fullest potential.

"Draw your weapon!"

"Alrighty."

She crouched a bit, extended her left arm forward, shoulders slightly bent, with her fingers apart from each other. Her right arm was positioned on her side. Her upper arm was in front of her, just near the stomach, and she's clinging on her uniform.

A growling sound could be heard the next second.

"Ugh, I'm hungry."

"What? Already?" Yukti said with his eyes squinting.

She sitting on the floor as if she's some kind of armadillo curling for protection.

I don't know if it's a trick or not. In the end, I'll best you, whoever you are!

"Hah!"

I dashed towards her and ought to strike her with my sword. If it's a normal person, she would normally die with this strike, so O made sure to coat the sword with ice to make it blunt. Also, we're talking about Yukti's accomplice. If Faze's statement during that time is real, then this one would be a challenge!

"Whoa there."

"What!?"

Few meters before my sword could hit her, she used her middle and index finger and did a horizontal s***h in the air. The sword didn't pass through that space. It's as if my sword hit something hard.

"Just as what Yukti said, you're a reckless suicide cannon."

"I don't care what you think of me, but rest assured that I'll beat you!"

"Try me."

She used that same gesture once again. This time, she did it vertically upwards.

"What the-!?"

It's an invisible projectile that just hit my sword. My feet were slightly burrowed in the ground after receiving such an impact.

Damn it, this girl also knows quick cast like that bastard!

On top of it, she could even cast it multiple times! If I don't focus, I could get hit!

"Kuh!"

"Hmm? Don't worry about being hit. All of those are just blunt strikes."

"You don't need to tell me that!"

"Eh? I'm just telling."

"Take this! Sub-Card, [Frost Wind]!"

[Frost Wind] is a Sub-Card that could slow down an opponent. I'm pretty sure this'll affect her.

"Ah, what a gentle breeze. Oh? It appears that it affects my speed."

Just as planned!

I tried to close my distance and to hit her on the waist. But then, I'm surprised when she draws out an estoc to parry my strike.

"Just kidding", she said with a giggle.

"Damn!"

My rune card did no effect! She had the resistance to nullify the debuff!

She slid my sword to get away from our fixed position and jumped above me to hit me on my head. I evaded it by jumping sideways and rolled on the ground. She's more or less as agile as I am...

"Hyaa!"

"Oh, now that's some vigor."

I strike, she parried.

I dashed once more. This time, it's twice as fast. But she just blocked my attack by using the tip of her estoc to stop my sword strike. I retracted from that to turn around and deliver the next blow. She put her estoc in a vertical position.

"Got you! [Icicle Shot]!"

My second strike is all but a feint. I used my rune card, [Icicle Shot]. But then...

"You don't need to shout in triumph if you're trying to outsmart your opponent you know?"

"Ack!"

She just hit the ice shard with that same trick she did before -- the invisible projectile. If it has the same power of that first strike I received, the shard would've been shattered in a explosive-like manner.

It's not the same output though.

The shard was instead blown away to bits opposite of its trajectory, just like how a hammer would shatter a glass if thrown.

She then put some distance between us.

I admit it. Fighting against her is difficult compared to fighting with Faze.

With that, there's no need for me to hold back, right?

"The soul of ice, the lady of the frozen lands... I ask of you to envelop me with your cold embrace, and give me the strength to defeat the enemy... [Frost Maiden]."

"Hey, Liz Plasma! That rune card is...!"

"Chairperson Crimson. I'm going all out for this battle. I want to test my limits, and see to it if I'm strong enough to carry the heavy responsibility of becoming the next head of Plasma Clan!"

A snowstorm has brewed with me as the center of it. My eyes glowed and around my arms were swirling cold wind. I levitated, and my [Glacial Sword of Calamity] is faintly emitting blue sparkles. It appears that it still doesn't recognized me as worthy enough, but it synced with me this time.

"Thank you, my sword. I'll show you how I improved in this duel."

"An Overhaul rune card, huh? Using that is quite a feat."

I looked back at the source of the voice.

It's Agony.

Her facial expression is serious. I couldn't see that playful attitude she's showing earlier.

"As what you are right now, lollygagging is disrespectful. I shall answer your resolve...with this."

Her estoc disappeared, and inhaled deeply before exhaling heavily.

•••

"The soul of ice, the lady of the frozen lands... I ask of you to envelop me with your cold embrace, and give me the strength to defeat the enemy... [Frost Maiden]."

She used an Overhaul rune card.

Overhauls boosts the user's stats. In her case, it's an Overhaul with an elemental attribute. It's been a while since I saw someone who used that. Though looking at her grim expression, she could only use it for a burst strike.

Alarmed, Michaela exclaimed at the Second Seat, trying to intervene in the midst of the duel.

"Hey, Liz Plasma! That rune card is...!"

However, she was replied by Liz (I now know her name. Sweet) who's demeanor is calmer than her usual with a sound argument.

So she could be a calm person. I never knew until now.

Now, Agony...what will you do?

"An Overhaul rune card, huh? Using that is quite a feat. As what you are right now, lollygagging is disrespectful. I shall answer your resolve...with this."

"That's...!"

A rune card appeared on her left hand.

This is totally unheard off. She could use a rune card despite the fact that she herself is a rune card as well!?

"Yukti, did you know about this?"

"No. It's my first time seeing her battling with someone."

"That much I know. I'm talking about that", Michaela said with her her finger pointing at the rune card held by Agony.

"That... I don't know anymore."

She's obviously shocked upon hearing my words as I shrugged my shoulders.

Sorry Michaela, even I don't know about this.

"Hear my voice, Oh majestic bird of ice! [Frost Phoenix: Permafrost]!"

"[Agony Meister]!"

Their voices overlapped. A blinding light shone as the rune cards were casted, forcing us to close our eyes.

The next thing we saw is a fainted Liz and Agony who's brought down to her knees, but still conscious.

The duel has ended.