Spade and I pushed through the crowd until we reached a registration table, where a chipper attendant greeted us.
"Welcome to the Duel Center! Here to sign up for today's tournament?"
"Yeah," I said, nodding. "It's my first time here."
"Awesome! You'll be in Room Six. Just head down the hall—doors are on your left. Good luck!"
I gave a quick wave and followed the directions, with Spade trotting ahead, tail wagging. The hallway was lined with doors, each one marked with a glowing monitor displaying the current match lineup. 'Ten Card Singles Challenge' flashed across Room Six's screen. That was my cue.
The room itself was spacious, with an elevated dueling platform at the center. As I stepped onto it, the platform rose slightly, and a glowing holo-interface materialized in front of me.
"Please choose your Zeldritch," an automated voice instructed.
A display of my available cards appeared. When I raised a selection, the system projected a rotating hologram of the Zeldritch, bringing it to life.
I locked in Gauspeckus, Skyrawltal, and Skyrawsoar. Solid choices for a tournament setting.
I was still debating between Drizibou and Sapkin when a new prompt interrupted me.
"Challenger: Gil Mason. Please choose your Zeldritch."
"Huh?" I blinked, looking around.
"Yo! You're here to compete, right?"
The voice came from a kid in a rustic green jacket, his cap pulled low over his eyes. He smirked.
"I'm your opponent. You ready?"
"Oh. Uh, sure." I straightened up, adjusting to the shift in pace. "Nice to meet you, Gil. I'm Jake."
"Good to meet ya." He hopped onto his platform across from mine. "Hey, what deck you running?"
"Uh, a mix of Wind, Ore, and Aqua… with some Deino cards thrown in. Still putting it together, honestly."
"Sweet." His grin widened. "I'm playing Terra, with a bit of Ore. Think you can handle it?"
"I'll give it my best shot."
"That's the spirit. Let's duel!"
We each finalized our Zeldritch selections and tapped the 'Begin' button. The platforms lowered back to ground level, and the holo-interface disappeared.
Gil took off his cap and placed it over his heart, smirking. "Hope you're ready, 'cause I'm not holding back."
He placed his cards down, then slammed his palm onto the 'COIN FLIP' button. A holographic coin materialized in front of him, hovering in midair. He picked it up and tossed it my way.
"Your call."
I hesitated, then shrugged. "Uh… heads."
Gil flipped the coin. It spun in the air before landing—tails.
"Too bad," he said. "But hey, no worries. You go first."
I drew my cards.
This was it—my first real tournament battle.
I gave my hand a once-over:
- Osseods (2)
- Oreseod
- Drizibou
- Gauspeckus
- Ilosphat
- Angrioon
- Liorex
- Skyrawltal
- Skyrawsoar
After a quick shuffle, I pulled my starting Basic Zeldritch—Drizibou.
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Drizibou [061]
[ Card Info ]
Attribute: [Aqua]
S-HP: [160 Units]
APEX-Power: [120 Units]
Grade: [Uncommon]
Weakness: [Voltage] [Plant]
Evolution Stage: [Basic] [Fledgling]
1. Oar Slap
- APEX Damage: [20]
- Cost: [20 APEX Units]
- Attributes: [Aqua]
- Description: Drizibou swipes to strike the foe with its flipper.
- Effect: Deals Aqua-attribute damage.
2. Aqua Shot
- APEX Damage: [40]
- Cost: [40 APEX Units]
- Attributes: [Aqua]
- Description: Drizibou spews a torrent of water at the foe.
- Effect: Deals Aqua-attribute damage. This skill may target another foe instead of the Active Zeldritch. If used to attack the target that is not Active, the skill costs an additional [10 APEX].
Retreat Cost: [20 APEX]
Attribute Weakness: [+20 Damage]
EVOLUTION COST: [50 Units] → (Dripdibou)
[ Additional Info ]
Zeldritch: NO. 061
Size: Medium
Sobriquet: "Fish-Mammalian Zeldritch"
[ Miscellaneous Info ]
- Market Sell Price: 10 Crystals
- Edition: Genesis [061 | 268]
- Created by: ZELDRITCH INC.
- Release Date: October 5th, 20XX
The moment I placed it in my Active Spot, a shimmering hologram of Drizibou appeared in front of me. I looked up and flashed Gil a thumbs-up.
"Ready when you are."
Gil nodded, placing his own card down. Another hologram flickered into existence—Plelepun.
The stout, elephant-like Zeldritch stomped its feet, swinging its trunk as its stats appeared:
Plelepun [080]
[ Card Info ]
Attribute: [Terra]
S-HP: [170 Units]
APEX-Power: [170 Units]
Grade: [Uncommon]
Weakness: [Aqua] [Spatial]
Evolution Stage: [Basic] [Fledgling]
1. Burrow
- APEX Damage: [40]
- Cost: [40 APEX Units]
- Attributes: [Terra]
- Description: Plelepun digs into the ground before striking at the foe.
- Effect: Deals Terra-attribute damage. Flip a coin. If heads, during your foe's next turn, prevent all damage from—and effects of—attacks done to this Zeldritch. Alternatively, pay an extra [80] APEX Units to bypass the coin flip and guarantee the effect.
2. Terrain Shift
- APEX Damage: [0]
- Cost: [50 APEX Units]
- Attributes: [Terra]
- Description: Plelepun terraforms the terrain to create its traps.
- Effect: Draw a card. The opposing player must reshuffle their hand and redraws the same number of cards. Before attacking, the foe flips a coin—if heads, their Active Zeldritch is [Stunned] and take [20] APEX Damage after attacking. If tails, they just take [20] APEX Damage after attacking.
Retreat Cost: [20 APEX]
Attribute Weakness: [+20 Damage]
EVOLUTION COST: [50 Units] → (Terrelepun)
[ Additional Info ]
- Zeldritch: NO. 080
- Size: Medium
- Sobriquet: "Tunneling Elephant Calf Zeldritch"
[ Miscellaneous Info ]
- Market Sell Price: 10 Crystals
- Edition: Genesis [080 | 268]
- Created by: ZELDRITCH INC.
- Release Date: October 5th, 20XX
The holographic Plelepun let out a low, rumbling noise as it swayed from side to side, ready for battle.
I cracked my knuckles.
"Alright," I said, locking eyes with Gil. "Let's do this."
I made my first move. I picked up the topmost card from my deck—Ilosphat. Not exactly what I needed right now, but it was fine. So I kept it in my hand.
Ilosphat [100]
[ Card Info ]
- Attribute: [Hazard] [Deino]
- S-HP: [140 Units]
- APEX-Power: [180 Units]
- Grade: [Rare]
- Weakness: [Terra] [Deino]
- Evolution Stage: [Basic] [Fledgling]
1. Glob Spit
- APEX Damage: [30]
- Cost: [30 APEX Units]
- Attributes: [Hazard]
- Description: Ilosphat spews a hazardous glob of spit.
- Effect: Deals Hazard-attribute damage. Inflicts [Poison] on your foe's Active Zeldritch.
2. Lacerate
- APEX Damage: [30]
- Cost: [30 APEX Units]
- Attributes: [Hazard] [Deino]
- Description: Ilosphat strikes at its foe with venomous claws.
- Effect: Deals Hazard and Deino-attribute damage. Inflicts [Lacerate] on your foe's Active Zeldritch. If the foe is already inflicted with a status ailment, deals an additional [20] APEX Damage.
Retreat Cost: [10 APEX]
Attribute Weakness: [+20 Damage]
EVOLUTION COST: [50 Units] → (Ilosplash)
[ Additional Info ]
- Zeldritch: NO. 100
- Size: Medium
- Sobriquet: "Dilophosaurus Zeldritch"
[ Miscellaneous Info ]
- Market Sell Price: 30 Crystals
- Edition: Genesis [100 | 268]
- Created by: ZELDRITCH INC.
- Release Date: October 5th, 20XX
Since the first player can't attack on their opening turn, I ended my play. All I had to do now was hold out against Plelepun's first move.
(Let's hope for the best Drizibou!)
"Yo, let's kick things off with a draw!" Gil said, plucking a card from his deck. His grin widened as he examined it. "Nice. Now that we're set up—here goes!"
He pointed at Plelepun.
"No hard feelings, but I gotta shift the battlefield to my liking. Let's go with [Terrain Shift]!"
Gil tapped his APEX reserves, prompting Plelepun's skill. The elephant-like Zeldritch let out a loud trumpet, stomping its feet as the holographic battlefield shifted beneath us.
The once-neutral terrain rippled and cracked, transforming into rocky earth with jagged outcroppings.
Plelepun's APEX-Power: 170 → 120.
"Terrain Shift activated!" the system announced.
A new message appeared on my holo-interface:
Effect Activated: [Terrain Shift]
- Gil draws one card.
- Jake shuffles his hand into his deck and redraws the same number of cards.
- Before attacking next turn, Jake must flip a coin. If heads: Drizibou is stunned and takes 20 APEX Damage after attacking. If tails: Drizibou takes 20 APEX Damage after attacking.
I groaned. "Man, that's annoying."
Gil just grinned. "Yup. Your turn!"
Reluctantly, I gathered my hand and shuffled it back into my deck, then drew one new card. I took a quick glance:
- Angrioon
- Skyrawltal
Alright, not terrible. That Angrioon could help power up Drizibou, and I had Skyrawltal lined up for later. I quickly placed the two Zeldritch on my Bench. Time to attack—but first, I had to deal with the coin flip penalty from [Terrain Shift].
I tapped the COIN FLIP button on my interface. The digital coin spun in the air, reflecting the glowing battlefield as it twirled.
It landed on heads.
Effect Activated: Stun.
- Drizibou is stunned this turn and cannot attack.
- Drizibou takes [20] APEX Damage.
I winced as the holographic Drizibou flickered, momentarily dazed. It wobbled unsteadily, looking less than battle-ready.
Drizibou's S-HP: 160 → 140.
"Well, that's just great," I muttered. "Guess I'll end my turn."
Gil laughed. "Hey, don't blame me—blame the coin!"
His turn began as he drew his next card. He examined it, then slid a new card onto his field.
"I'm evolving Plelepun," he announced.