The neighboring games had slowed to a crawl as Felix and Lane's match progressed. Felix's position as captain and Lane acting as replacement for Callum had earned them both attention. It felt as though Tai, despite his comments, couldn't keep his eyes from wandering towards the game.
Pendulum Swing towards Felix: 2 → 3
Lane cards in hand: 4
Felix cards in hand: 4
Felix drew two cards and brought the Pendulum counter up to 3 with his Timecard. “It’s pretty obvious your second face-down card is Dream Invader. It’s rare for someone to actually play that thing. It’s even worse when you tell your opponent where it is! Now let’s get this turn started”
Honeyed Insectoid Supervisor - Power: 400 → 800
Swing: 3
Effect: All cards with Honeyed Insectoid in their name gain 200 power. Duplicates of this card are allowed.
“You’d be surprised how many copies of Supervisor I run in my deck. Now I know your Knight and Invader can’t stop my attacks! This new Supervisor strikes first!”
Lane revealed his face-down resource card, Dream Invader.
Dream Invader - Power: 100
Swing: 1 → 0
Effect: This card can be played face-down in the resource zone and summoned on your opponent’s turn to block an attack. If it survives or is summoned normally, move it to a subject position.
Honeyed Insectoid Supervisor (B) destroys Dream Invader
The cost was nullified by The Lonely Repairman’s effect. “It’s a nice combo,” Harvey said. “Normally, this play would give Felix more opportunity to move, but with his ruler’s effect, it costs nothing to waste one of Felix’s attacks.”
“And he can bring it back again next turn,” Tai noticed. Maybe he showed it off just to set up this combination? Had the rookie just stumbled onto a floodgate like this?
“I attack with my other Supervisor!”
Lane flipped over his other resource card.
Tears of Rage - Resource
Swing: 2
Effect: If a subject in your kingdom was destroyed this turn, raise the attack power of a subject by the destroyed subject’s original Power for the rest of the turn.
Because the Resource was played on his opponent’s turn, Lane essentially was giving Felix more Swing to summon additional subjects or play more resources, but it was worth it to spring this trap.
Ill Equipped Knight’s effect activated.
Honeyed Insectoid Supervisor (A) - 800 is destroyed attacking Ill Equipped Soldier - 900.
“That’s big,” Harvey said. “Felix made a mistake… he risked his Supervisor on an attack he thought was a sure thing. Using Controller would’ve still destroyed that subject.” Her opponent might’ve scolded her for being distracted, but he was also watching the other game.
Tai nodded. “The better move would have been to use Controller, definitely. I can’t tell which of these guys is worse.”
“I use Controller’s effect to attack!”
Honeyed Insectoid Controller’s effect activated, adding Salarybee’s Power to its own. Honeyed Insectoid Controller - 1600 destroyed Ill Equipped Soldier - 900.
“Felix was too scared to attack with his ruler. If there was a handtrap waiting, then he would’ve lost a prize card,” Harvey whispered. “He’s taking Lane seriously now.” For a moment, Tai and her considered if they should too.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Felix summoned another subject.
Honeyed Insectoid Secretary - Power: 400 → 600
Swing: 2
Effect: When this card is played, reveal a card with “Honeyed Insectoid” in its name to your opponent from the deck. Add that card to your hand. Shuffle your deck.
“I’ll just get another Supervisor!” Felix said, revealing the card and proceeding to shuffle his deck. “And let my Secretary draw first blood!”
Honeyed Insectoid Secretary - 600 attacked The Lonely Repairman - 100. With nothing else to protect the ruler, Lane drew one card from the short prize deck.
“I’ll end my turn by playing the Supervisor I drew.”
Honeyed Insectoid Supervisor - Power: 400 → 800
Swing: 3
Effect: All cards with Honeyed Insectoid in their name gain 200 power. Duplicates of this card are allowed.
Pendulum Swing towards Lane: 3
Lane cards in hand: 5
Felix cards in hand: 4
Lane drew two cards and another subject position opened after the first card.
Activate effect of The Lonely Repairman to retrieve Dream Invader from the Waste at a reduced cost. ClockWorkshop activates to open another subject position, making four open. Lane placed one card face-down in the Resource position.
“That definitely won’t get annoying,” Felix whined. He noticed how close Lane actually was to evolving his ruler. Some kingdom mats only became powerful once those conditions were met and Felix felt that he needed to stop the boy before that moment came. It was all the more embarrassing that his rushdown style wasn’t able to overcome Lane’ strategies.
Lane played another subject from his messy jumble of a deck, laying the card face-up.
Fatal Stagehand - Power: 1000
Swing: 2
EffectL Reduce this card’s original attack by half after making an attack.
Harvey found herself leaning forward. It would be prudent to declare an attack with the subject instead of letting it die on the defensive. But, would the quiet boy actually use his words? It would be the first time she’d ever heard him speak.
Lane tapped the card and pointed it towards one of the Supervisors. Felix pinched the corner of his mouth but nodded. He understood the attack and didn’t argue that the boy needed to use his words.
Fatal Stagehand - 1000 attacked Honeyed Insectoid Supervisor - 800 and squashed the bug. Lane played another subject.
Severe Librarian - Power: 300
Swing: 2
Effect: When this card is played, select a Resource card and return it to the bottom of its original owner’s deck.
Lane picked the Timecard and Felix shoved it to the bottom of his deck.
Pendulum Swing towards Felix: 1
Lane cards in hand: 5
Felix cards in hand: 4
Felix drew two cards. He paused to study the new cards and evaluate his options. Lane essentially had three monsters on his board, and space for more. Felix needed to restrict the amount of monsters he could summon. He would prevent the ruler from evolving into a different card and continue building advantage on his own side.
“My secretary strikes first!” Felix announced. “Let’s avenge my cards. Honeyed Insectoid Secretary attacks your Stagehand!”
Honeyed Insectoid Secretary - 600 attacked Fatal Stagehand - 500 and destroyed the subject.
“And your Librarian’s next.”
Honeyed Insectoid Salarybee - 600 attacked Severe Librarian - 300 and destroyed the subject.
“My ruler strikes first!” Felix felt he’d overestimated his quiet opponent. The boy had put on a nice show, but Felix knew his bees would come through for him. With duplicates and his board’s unique effect, consistency was the foundation of his strategy. No surprises.
Honeyed Insectoid Controller - 1000 attacked The Lonely Repairman - 100 and Lane was forced to draw the second of his three prize cards. Felix didn’t waste time directing the second attack.
Honeyed Insectoid Supervisor - 600 attacked The Lonely Repairman - 100 and Lane drew the final prize card.
Tai buried his head in his hands. “Did he forget to use Dream Invader?”
Harvey didn’t think that was likely. The kid wasn’t experienced, but he knew that there couldn’t be another attack coming. Why not use Invader to protect his last prize card? It wouldn’t be worth much on the offensive.
Felix seemed troubled by the same questions, but didn’t ask anything. He summoned one last subject to end his turn.
Honeyed Insectoid Salarybee - Power: 400 → 600
Swing: 2
Effect: Duplicates of this card are allowed.
Felix's kingdom swarmed with the insects, where Lane's was completely solitary.