With the Frost Serpent coiled around his arm and Ember by his side, Jalen could feel the power and potential within his first two summoned familiars. They weren’t just random draws; each held a unique strength, an undeniable individuality that set them apart from the rest of his deck. Ember was special as his first summon, the little salamander that radiated loyalty and warmth. And now the Frost Serpent, a dual elemental spirit, carried the calm yet chilling resonance of an elemental with greater potential—something rare, something to be treasured and nurtured.
Jalen shifted his attention back to the rest of the deck, feeling the raw potential and variety in his remaining cards.
[System Testing stage will begin in 8 hours. Familiarize yourself with your cards and abilities. ]
Looking at a another card with a fire elemental like Ember it didn't have a flavor text.
[ Lesser Fire Elemental]
[Type:Summon]
[Subtypes: Elemental, Spirit]
[Summon cost: 2 mana]
[Activation Cost: 1 energy]
[Effect summons a fire elemental summon lasts for 7 turns has a resilience of 10 against non spirit based attacks and 4 against spirits physical power of 4 ignites enemies .]
Why is it different from the other two they didn't have stats? Jalen questioned the system.
[Their attributes were undefined before their summons. Ember as the first summon chosen by the system to be your first. Frost as a hybrid elemental that was originally not supposed to be in your starter deck. They now fixed stats and can be viewed anytime. ]
Jalen examined the Lesser Fire Elemental card in his hand, comparing its straightforward stats with the more enigmatic qualities that Ember and the Frost Serpent had demonstrated. The system’s explanation brought clarity, but also hinted at the nature of his deck—each card was more than just a tool; it had a purpose, a place within his journey as a Deckmaster. Ember, as the first, had received a unique boost through their bond, and the Frost Serpent, an unexpected addition to his starting deck, was an anomaly with the potential to grow beyond ordinary bounds. This lesser elemental, however, seemed like a classic summon: dependable but likely limited in its adaptability.
“Alright, system, so some spirits are more defined than others depending on their significance,” Jalen mused, mostly to himself, though he felt an underlying satisfaction knowing that his first two summons were truly his—creatures that would grow and adapt with him, rather than static entities bound by preset stats.
He reviewed the fire elemental’s details carefully. With a resilience rating of 20 against non-spirit attacks and 8 against spirit attacks, it was durable but clearly less flexible than his familiars. Its pyro damage and physical power were practical, though lacking the nuanced personality Ember exhibited.
After a moment, he nodded, mentally taking stock of his capabilities. This elemental would work as a straightforward combatant, one he could deploy without worrying too much about preserving a delicate bond. It was a reliable piece in his arsenal—useful for straightforward attacks, rather than the complex, evolving roles Ember and the Frost Serpent would likely play.
He placed the card down and continued skimming through the deck, noticing other familiar elements and summon costs. Each had its own defined abilities, some with flavor text that hinted at unique personality quirks or specific battlefield advantages. The structure of it all fascinated him. It was as if he held a miniature, self-contained army, each with unique skills and attributes.
But as he considered each card and the different ways they might interact, he was reminded of the system’s warning.
[System Final stage will begin in 8 hours. Familiarize yourself with your cards and abilities.]
It was an urgent reminder that his connection to his deck would soon be put to the test in ways he likely couldn’t predict. He had two hours to prepare, to understand the strengths and weaknesses within his cards and to strategize how best to use them.
Jalen looked at Ember, who chirped softly, and the Frost Serpent, coiled patiently around his arm. They seemed to sense his anticipation and offered quiet support, their presence a steady reassurance. Together, they were more than just tools—they were partners, and he was ready to see just how far they could push each other’s limits.
“Alright,” he said, glancing at his deck once more with renewed determination. “Let’s get ready to show the system what a real Deckmaster can do.”
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
System began the testing phase.
[Testing stage begin 10, 9, 8, 7, …]
As the countdown concluded, the system pulsed a gentle prompt across his vision.
[System Tutorial Testing Stage Initiated: Puppets Activated. Objective: Eliminate all targets using your deck to assess card synergy and familiar handling.]
From the shadows at the far end of the chamber, humanoid figures began to emerge. They were roughly human-shaped, but their movements were stiff, jerky, as if guided by invisible strings. Their bodies were featureless, faceless masses, each a uniform shade of gray. The dull light of the chamber caught on their surfaces, revealing joints and gears beneath a thin skin-like material. Puppets, the system called them—training constructs designed solely to test his abilities.
“Alright, Ember, Frost, this is our first real trial together,” Jalen murmured, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the puppets. “Let’s make it count.”
Ember’s flames flickered with excitement, while the Frost Serpent’s icy gaze remained steady, almost meditative. With a flick of his hand, Jalen activated Ember, allowing the fire spirit to dash forward with a chirp of enthusiasm. The room immediately warmed as the little salamander blazed toward the nearest puppet, leaving faint scorch marks in its wake.
Jalen focused, mentally connecting with Ember to issue a command. “Ember, go for its legs.”
Responding instantly, Ember lunged low, his small body enveloped in a burst of flame. The puppet’s legs caught fire, the flames spreading up its form with Ember’s precise hits, weakening its structure. The puppet staggered, its movements sluggish as the fire began to warp and melt its outer material.
“Nice work, Ember,” Jalen said, a grin forming. His bond with the salamander allowed for a fluid connection; Ember seemed to sense his intentions, adjusting its attacks without needing further commands. Satisfied with Ember’s work, Jalen turned to the Frost Serpent still coiled around his arm. “Alright, Frosty, let’s give you a shot.”
The Frost Serpent unwound itself and slithered forward gracefully, the temperature dropping with each movement. As it approached another puppet, Jalen directed it to aim for a more precise strike.
“Freeze its joints,” he commanded, voice steady. The Frost Serpent coiled around the puppet’s torso, its icy scales radiating a frigid aura that slowed the puppet’s movements. Frost crept over the puppet’s joints, locking them in place. Jalen could see cracks forming in the puppet’s limbs as the cold weakened its structure.
The puppet struggled to move, gears grinding against the frost that had begun to seize them. With one swift squeeze, the Frost Serpent crushed its way through the puppet, reducing it to shattered fragments of ice-coated metal.
The system’s voice interrupted, cool and detached as ever.
[Puppet Targets Remaining: 8]
“Eight more, huh?” Jalen muttered, a spark of determination flaring in his eyes. Ember and the Frost Serpent were proving themselves, but he wanted to see how the other spirits in his deck would handle these constructs. This was as much a test of strategy as it was power, and he had no intention of just relying on raw strength.
He drew another card, one he’d noted before with interest. The image a water elemental with a black slime complexity.
[Card: Abyssal Shard Summon]
Jalen activated the card, paying the required mana and energy. The air in front of him warped as the chaotic colors of the Abyssal Shard swirled into existence. The shard was a shifting mass of dark, almost liquid energy that fluctuated between solid and amorphous.
“Alright, Abyssal spirit Shard,” Jalen murmured, “show me what you can do.”
As if sensing his intent, the shard expanded, taking on a shadowy, ethereal form as it floated toward one of the puppets. With a sudden burst, it collided with the target, latching onto it like a parasite. The puppet twitched, and Jalen watched in fascination as the Abyssal Shard began to morph, its chaotic energies probing the puppet’s structure before lashing out with tendrils of crackling dark energy.
To his surprise, the shard had gained a lightning-like quality, zapping through the puppet’s form with each pulse. Within moments, the puppet collapsed in a charred heap, the electrical energy frying its internal mechanisms.
[Abyssal Shard Ability Unlocked: Adaptation - The Abyssal Shard randomly absorbs an elemental property based on its target.]
“Adaptation,” Jalen murmured, eyes gleaming with interest. “So, it’s unpredictable but flexible. That could be useful.”
The system’s counter ticked down again.
[Puppet Targets Remaining: 7]
Ember and the Frost Serpent waited, their forms tense and alert, while the Abyssal Shard pulsed with residual energy. The three spirits seemed to sense one another, acknowledging each other’s presence with unspoken understanding.
As the countdown concluded, the system pulsed a gentle prompt across his vision.
[System Tutorial Testing Stage Initiated: Puppets Activated. Objective: Eliminate all targets using your deck to assess card synergy and familiar handling.]
From the shadows at the far end of the chamber, humanoid figures began to emerge. They were roughly human-shaped, but their movements were stiff, jerky, as if guided by invisible strings. Their bodies were featureless, faceless masses, each a uniform shade of gray. The dull light of the chamber caught on their surfaces, revealing joints and gears beneath a thin skin-like material. Puppets, the system called them—training constructs designed solely to test his abilities.
“Alright, Ember, Frost, this is our first real trial together,” Jalen murmured, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the puppets. “Let’s make it count.”
Ember’s flames flickered with excitement, while the Frost Serpent’s icy gaze remained steady, almost meditative. With a flick of his hand, Jalen activated Ember, allowing the fire spirit to dash forward with a chirp of enthusiasm. The room immediately warmed as the little salamander blazed toward the nearest puppet, leaving faint scorch marks in its wake.
Jalen focused, mentally connecting with Ember to issue a command. “Ember, go for its legs.”
Responding instantly, Ember lunged low, his small body enveloped in a burst of flame. The puppet’s legs caught fire, the flames spreading up its form with Ember’s precise hits, weakening its structure. The puppet staggered, its movements sluggish as the fire began to warp and melt its outer material.