“Have you ever wondered what walking on the sun feels like? Try dueling Faderius Blask. It’s kind of the same thing, really.”

- Master Tast

“Where is your Monarch, Faderius Blask?” the Dark Summoner asked as the headmaster’s card dissolved into light, forming into a portal on the ground. A massive purple tentacle reached through, grasping for purchase on the slick grass and pulling more of itself out as the seconds passed.

The bald man simply pointed behind him with the thumb of his empty hand, which Percy now realized didn’t bear a gauntlet. Percy looked in the direction Headmaster Blask had indicated, but didn’t see anything.

“He’s a bit busy right now, as you might be able to tell. But no matter,” the headmaster replied nonchalantly. “I don’t need my Monarch to handle you.”

“I suppose I’ll have to settle for attacking you, then.”

Headmaster Blask tipped his head. “If you can.”

The tentacle continued to pull itself out of the portal on the ground, and Alyster sneered. Performing the same gesture that Blask had done, he pulled at something in the air, proceeding to draw his own hand of cards and playing one.

From his gauntlet’s touch, a blast of angry red energy ignited within the mouth of the disfigured dragon before it fired, hissing through the air and digging deep into the flesh of the tentacle. The appendage pulsed, pausing in its escape attempt. Rings of the same red energy coursed along its skin, moving faster and faster until it seemed like the tentacle was surrounded in a crimson barrier. It pointed toward the Dark Summoner, a red laser firing out of the tip and flying toward the man.

He didn’t even flinch as the energy crashed against a white barrier that suddenly formed before him and the dragon he stood atop. In fact, from his lax demeanor, Percy might’ve thought Alyster was about to yawn. But he knew better.

He pulled out his tome, pointing the spine toward the dragon and then the tentacle, but the book didn’t react at all. He stared at it, confused.

“You won’t be able to see those monstrosities in your tome there, boy,” the voice of Mrs. Balligan came from behind. She approached, a hand on her deck box, standing by his side. “They’re far too powerful for your basic book.”

That made sense, sort of. Somebody called the Dark Summoner would be expected to play on another level. His dragon was an example of that. It was far bigger than any of Percy’s. Well, except Silvaroth. He couldn’t imagine how many turns it would take him to summon something like that.

A hand tapped his shoulder. Mrs. Balligan. Percy turned to look at her. She was holding a tome far larger than his own, with an extremely well-worn spine. He gave her a curious look.

“You’re not going to force me inside the building?” he asked.

She shrugged, pointing at the headmaster. “Those foundations won’t keep you safe from someone that can take him down. You’re safer by his side.” She passed him the tome. “This one will help you identify any of the anomalies these two might play, since you’re curious. And, calm in your body, oddly enough. I digress. The tome has seen quite a lot.”

Percy opened the book. The first page was titled, “Views from a Vigilant Visionary, by Veigus Witsbane”. Under that was written, “The Astute Summoner’s Guide to All Things Magic”.

“I can use this?” he confirmed.

She nodded. “For now. But that comes from my personal collection, so I’ll want it back.”

Percy pointed the spine toward the dragon.

Valyrus, the Corrupter

Cost: 20 Mana

Empowered Summon - Dragon

While this Summon is in play, your Monarch cannot be harmed.

Any Summon destroyed by this Summon is converted into a “Shard of the Corrupter” under your control.

Generates 25 Shadow RPT

15,000 / 15,000

Ah yes, Valyrus, Silvaroth mused as Percy’s mouth dropped open. I remember him. He’s always had rather a unique ability amongst dragons.

You’re… not at all surprised by his stats? Percy asked. He’s stronger than you are.

The dragon scoffed. Hardly. You simply mean that his current form is more powerful than mine. Valyrus has always been a weakminded creature.

Percy turned his attention to the tentacle that was still slithering further out of the portal on the ground.

Finger of the Erased

Cost: 8 Mana

Empowered Summon - Erased

Each turn, this Summon’s stats increase by 2,000.

Any damaging Spell cast against this Summon during its first three turns on the field is reflected back to the opposing Summoner.

Sacrifice 8 Fingers of the Erased: Summon the Erased.

Generates 1 Fire, 1 Water, 1 Wind, 1 Earth, 1 Light, 1 Shadow RPT

4,000 / 4,000

“What kind of overpowered level of play are they at?” the boy asked in shock. In the time he’d taken to read the two cards, the Dark Summoner had summoned three identical monsters. They reminded Percy of the drawings he’d seen of goblins. Dark green skin, slouched postures, but with spikes running down their arms, legs, backs, and long whipping tails.

How offensive, Silvaroth commented. Half-dragons…

Bone Spike Blitzer

Cost: 5 Mana

Empowered Summon - Goblin Dragonkin

This Summon counts as a Dragon.

This Summon can attack immediately.

Generates 5 Fire, 5 Wind, 5 Earth RPT.

1,500 / 1,000

“He just spent fifteen mana without even blinking…” Percy said.

Mrs. Balligan released a forced laugh. “Welcome to Grand Dueling, Mr. Allblythe. A bit early for yourself, but… with your talent in the School of Binding, I’m sure you’ll get there.”

All three blitzers dashed forward, one performing a front flip like it was just there to have a good time. One after another, they slammed their bladed tails into the tentacle, tearing out chunks of its flesh with their hands and shoving it down their throats.

Truly offensive, Silvaroth repeated. All the power of a dragon with none of the pride.

“They don’t have wings,” Percy observed.

The dragon snorted. Most of the power of a dragon with none of the pride.

The tentacle spasmed, a horribly shrill shriek leaving the pit. Then, in seconds, the “finger” was pulled back into the portal, which shattered into fragments of light.

The headmaster repeated the invisible rope pulling action, the force in the air nearly knocking the book out of Percy’s hands as it arrived.

Alyster sneered. “I don’t like it when you interrupt me, Faderius Blask.”

“Well now, I can’t just let you attack me, can I?” the bald man replied, drawing a card and tossing it to the ground. Like before, a portal opened on the grass before him, but this time, it wasn’t a tentacle that emerged. Instead, two long wiry skinless humanoids appeared. They had distended limbs with pulsing muscles which bent at awkward angles, their incredibly long fingers resting against the ground. Where their heads should’ve been were brains with feelers growing from where a mouth might’ve gone.

Erased Twins

Cost: 6 Mana

Empowered Summon - Erased

This Summon may attack twice.

If it is not your turn, this Summon has the chance to Dodge attacks by enemy Summons.

Generates 2 Fire, 2 Water, 2 Wind, 2 Earth, 2 Light, 2 Shadow RPT

1,750 / 3,500

“So… his deck is really heavily based around whatever these “Erased” things are?” Percy said idly.

“Indeed, Mr. Allblythe,” Mrs. Balligan answered. “The Erased are dangerous entities that a Summoner should never wish to come into contact with. They emerge from sudden breaks in reality, moving with a purpose we can only hope to one day understand.”

“Sounds like Cthulhu,” Percy responded.

“Gesundheit.”

The headmaster threw another card to the ground, his preferred way of Summoning, evidently. Yet another portal opened. No creature emerged this time. Instead, a glowing purple rock pillar in the shape of a dagger sprouted from the ground. Blask walked forward and touched it. The purple glow condensed around his hand, flowing up his arm and vanishing into his skin. If Percy could see the man’s face, he would see that Faderius’ eyes were glowing the same color as the stone. He selected a card from his hand while Percy pointed the worn tome toward the pillar.

Living Monument

Cost: 3 Mana

Empowered Summon - Erased

This Summon cannot attack.

You may collect Res from this Summon immediately.

Generates 5 Fire, 5 Water, 5 Wind, 5 Earth, 5 Light, 5 Shadow RPT

0 / 5,000

As Blask went to use the card he’d selected, however, his opponent grabbed at the air, tugging it toward himself. The magical aura around the headmaster vanished, and Alyster grinned as he drew a card.

“You lost yourself for a moment there, Blask.”

Selecting a card, the Dark Summoner slapped it against his gauntlet. His hand shook with power before three balls of light rushed into the blitzers on the field. Percy was barely able to target the spell with the tome before it crashed into each of the monsters, surrounding them in an orange glow.

Sparking Power

Cost: 10 Light Res

Empowered Spell

Target up to three Summons. They may each attack one extra time for each other Summon on the field which they share a name with.

Channel: Any Summon

Faderius smiled. “Ah, it’s been such a long time since last I was able to duel someone as capable as yourself, Mr. Oble. Are you sure we can’t sit down for some tea?”

“Perhaps I’ll take you up on that offer,” the Dark Summoner replied. “When you’re a corpse, that is.”

The blitzers each charged forward, destroying the Living Monument in a few attacks. Still, they continued to swing at the Erased Twins. The attacks never seemed to end, but the twins managed to avoid most of the damage, somehow swinging each other out of the way of the attacks as though in a slowdance.

Blask didn’t give Alyster a chance to continue, pulling the power back to himself once more.

“What is that?” Percy asked, pointing towards the headmaster’s movement that resulted in his ability to take his turn. “They’re both doing it.”

Mrs. Balligan nodded. “It’s an advanced technique. You’re aware of the flux?”

“Not too much besides that the person in flux gets to go first.”

The woman in black nodded again. “Yes, that’s the general rule. But advanced Summoners can manipulate the flux. It enables them to steal the turn out from under their opponent. I’m not entirely sure how it works, but I believe it has to do with intent. There aren’t many Summoners who can do it.”

Because you humans are weak, Silvaroth commented.