The trainer sold a package of eight basic skills, two for each of the game’s four core classes. [Healing Ray] and [Bolster] were designed for medics. Funnily enough, capturing all the creatures in the shallows had warranted him [Healing Ray]. As for [Bolster], Ratu had used it against him back in their match, and its AstroTerra version did basically the same as its Terralore counterpart—buffing its target. The buff was simple, increasing HP and energy for five minutes, allowing players to battle a little more comfortably.

  [Shield Bash] and [Taunting Shout] were a warrior’s bread-and-butter skills. The first required a shield and stunned a target, while [Taunting Shout] attracted aggro, keeping enemies focused on the player. [Throw Rocks] and [Shepherd’s Shout] were designed for espers, giving players a basic ranged attack and a skill that scared creatures away. Finally, there were [Backstab] and [Wildcat Stance], which allowed rogues to deal more damage.

  Probably the developers’ way of letting beginners get a taste of each class. That way, they can be sure of what path they want to take, Deckard thought, scrolling through the list.

  The funny thing was, he already owned five out of these eight skills: [Wildcat Stance] from his earlier trade, and [Backstab], [Taunting Shout], [Shield Bash], and [Throw Rocks] from trades he’d conducted before facing Ratu. No wonder those players were eager to trade those cards away—they could just come here and learn them from Makoa.

  A pang of irritation shot through him. He wasn’t sure if he should feel wronged or scammed after learning this. The players had made him trade rarer cards that were potentially worth more. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I knew the risks when I made that promise. No point in crying over it now. Besides, this is valuable knowledge. Next time, I’ll know to look for patterns like this before trading.

  Alright, first things first.

  “Teacher, I’d like to learn a skill,” Deckard said, his heart pounding in anticipation.

  Makoa nodded with a confident grin. “Take your pick!”

  Deckard’s mind raced. Yes! I can learn skills! [Wildcat Stance] was the skill he wanted most. A simple self-buff that boosted damage and speed for a short time, it synergized perfectly with [Backstab], allowing wannabe rogues to deal burst damage. Even though Deckard didn’t need [Backstab] himself, learning this buff would let him triple his card damage output and finally start taking down diseased seagulls with card throws alone. If I get this, my whole playstyle changes.

  He selected the skill to purchase, but the button was grayed out.

  Deckard clicked his tongue in frustration. “Guess it’s not gonna be that easy, huh?” He sighed, brushing off the disappointment. If it’s locked, it means I’ll have to find another way to master these skills. If I learned [Healing Ray] from collecting starfish, I might still be able to learn another of these skills if I reach the right milestone. It's not the first time I’ve had to adapt my plans.

  Even though he couldn’t learn any skills directly from Makoa, he felt his trip here had been worthwhile. The eight skills Makoa taught must be part of a basic package available in every village across AstroTerra. It was surprising to him how these seemingly disconnected skills shared a connection. They make up a set… a collection.

  Based on what he’d learned about his class, he suspected that if he could collect all eight cards of these skills, it might lead to a new milestone. Maybe even something that would give him an edge. His frustration slowly shifted into determination. I’m on to something here. This might be bigger than just learning these basic skills individually.

  And at least I don’t have to invest too much to find out, he thought with satisfaction. He already had over three silver to his name and two more cards left to trade—more than enough to fuel his next steps.

  Heading back to the pier, Deckard set the two [Seagull Poison] cards in front of him. “Buying [Healing Ray], [Shepherd’s Shout], and [Bolster] for one silver and ten coppers each,” he called out. “Or, trading [Seagull Poison] for any of these.”

  It didn’t take long for a player to approach, his eyes keen with interest.

  “I’ll trade you [Healing Ray] for one silver and thirty coppers,” the player offered.

  Deckard shook his head, smiling slightly. “One silver and ten coppers, not a copper more.”

  “1 silver and 20 coppers!” the player countered, clearly reluctant to go lower.

  Deckard adjusted the spectacles on his nose. The nervous tic that he hadn’t been able to indulge in the past day of gaming calmed him, making him feel more in control. “Sorry, one silver and ten coppers. Final offer.” Deckard held the player’s gaze calmly, glancing around to spot a few more players eying his cards. “Take it or leave it,” he added, knowing the other players would likely jump on the deal if this one refused.

  The player sighed in defeat. “Argh. Fine.”

  Deckard quickly secured the trade, feeling a spark of satisfaction at sticking to his terms. He adjusted his sales pitch and called out, “Trading for [Shepherd’s Shout] and [Bolster]—one silver and ten coppers each, or a [Seagull] Poison card!”

  The next taker approached and didn’t bother haggling. “Here’s [Shepherd’s Shout].”

  “Here’s your silver!” Deckard said, pleased with the quick trade.

  “Buying [Bolster] at one silver and ten coppers or trading it for a [Seagull Poison] card!” Despite his repeated calls, no one came forward. As time passed, his thoughts drifted to the [Bolster] card he’d once owned. If only I hadn’t traded it away to learn Ratu’s location…

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Time ticked by with no takers. All the players that looked eager to trade earlier must have had either [Shepherd’s Shout] or [Healing Ray]. Deckard was beginning to wonder if anyone around even had a [Bolster] to trade.

  Could it be that only bosses drop it? Deckard wondered. Finally, a player approached, eyeing the [Seagull Poison] cards with interest.

  The player smirked. “I’ll trade you [Bolster]—but I want one [Seagull Poison] and one and a half silvers.”

  Deckard met the player’s gaze head-on. “That’s steep.”

  “Then good luck finding another [Bolster],” the player replied with a shrug, already turning as if to leave.

  Deckard’s hand went to his spectacles, adjusting them as he weighed the offer. It was the worst trade he’d had yet, but he realized it was probably better not to let this one slip by. Despite his repeated attempts to trade [Seagull Poison], there were very few takers—it was likely a card with a high drop rate, making it easy to find. If this unlocks a milestone like I think it will, then it’s worth the price.

  “Alright, you’ve got a deal,” he said, extending the silver coins and the card. The player accepted them with a satisfied grin, handing Deckard the [Bolster] card.

  With all three skills finally in hand, Deckard took a deep breath, feeling anticipation building in his chest. This is it. If my theory’s right, collecting these basic skills might just unlock something valuable.

  “Alright…” he murmured to himself, fingers tingling with excitement. “Time to see if my hunch was right.”

  Finding a quiet spot under the pier, he placed his repository on the ground and carefully inserted the three skills he’d just acquired.

  Collection updated:

  +0.2 healing;

  +0.1 energy regeneration.

  Like when he’d captured the sunflower sea star, the repository began to glow. The eight skills merged into a single page, and a system message appeared.

  Congratulations! You’ve captured all skill cards from the beginner’s training package. Your repository cross-references the information, and you gain new knowledge.

  You’ve unlocked a new skill: [Beginner’s Path].

  Deckard’s heart leaped. It worked!

  Excitedly, he examined the skill:

  Beginner’s Path (Uncommon)

  Description: Success lies in a strong foundation and varied experiences.

  Effects: Passive. +1 attack; +10 HP; +10 energy.

  Deckard grinned, a thrill running through him. This skill was exactly what he needed. Especially the +1 attack bonus—it would make a huge difference, essentially doubling the damage his cards could deal at this stage.

  All that grinding and trading finally paid off.

  Deckard eyed the very last duplicate in his inventory: [Seagull Poison]. He sighed, turning the card over in his hand. The time it would take him to grind for a new skill could probably be better spent negotiating a trade. He climbed up the ladder, and instead of heading straight for the pier, he started wandering around town, calling out his offer as he walked.

  “Trading a [Seagull Poison] card for any other skill card, as long as I don’t have it yet. Make an offer!”

  A player approached, but the cards they had to offer were ones Deckard already owned. Just as he was considering heading to another area, a familiar voice barked from behind him.

  “You here?!”

  Deckard turned to see an older islander with a grizzly beard. His skin was burned by the sun, and he wore a yellow jacket and rubber boots. He glared at Deckard with that same fierce intensity when they had first faced each other. “Ratu?!”

  “Why you stalkin’ me, foreigner?” Ratu didn’t bother hiding the irritation in his voice, but a spark of excitement flashed in his eyes.

  Deckard sighed, though he couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at his lips. “I’m really not.”

  Ratu’s gaze dropped to the card in Deckard’s hand, his mouth twisting into a sly grin. “You got cards again, eh, foreigner?”

  Deckard raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. “What if I have?”

  “Then you owe me a rematch, yeah?”

  “I owe you?” Deckard’s grin mirrored Ratu’s.

  “Yah!” Ratu’s voice boomed with energy. “I challenge you, foreigner!”

  Special event triggered: An NPC wants to challenge you to a Terralore battle. Win to obtain a reward.

  Deckard blinked in surprise, his mind racing. A special event? Was it triggered by their history or maybe by his special class? Or did it trigger because he now had over 20 cards in his repository, enough to make a deck? Whatever the reason, he hadn’t played Terralore since their last game, and he was itching for another go at it.

  “Fine. I accept your challenge.”

  “Good! Follow me. We play in my boat.”

  “Why not here?” Deckard asked.

  “No one gonna bother us there,” Ratu insisted, his eyes darting around nervously.

  Is he afraid that I’ll humiliate him again? Deckard wondered. “Fine. Let’s have it your way.”

  Ratu led him to a small, weather-beaten boat with two oars painted in faded reds and blues. The wood creaked as they climbed in, the paint chipped and worn by salt and sun. Ratu pushed away from the pier and started rowing, getting the boat to climb over the waves.

  Even after the sea calmed, Deckard noticed Ratu kept rowing farther out. He raised an eyebrow, an uneasy feeling creeping in.

  “Isn’t this far enough?”

  “Nah, boat still rockin’ too much,” Ratu said, rowing with a determination that made Deckard’s suspicions grow. “A little farther.”

  Where did this NPC keep finding people willing to give him good cards? Deckard wondered, narrowing his gaze. Did he find himself a backer? And why is he so intent on taking me away from the village? A chill ran down Deckard’s spine. He’s not kidnapping me, is he?

  Despite his doubts, Ratu finally stopped rowing, glancing around with satisfaction. “Here, no one bother us.” He turned to face Deckard, already gripping his deck, his eyes gleaming with determination. “You ready?”

  “Give me a sec.” Deckard opened his repository.

  Twenty cards to make a deck. Every card in the deck has to be unique, Deckard recited as he recalled the rules of deckbuilding in Terralore.

  He carefully studied each card as he selected his deck, mentally weighing potential combinations. I won last time, but if he’s got new cards with help, I’ll need to be ready for surprises. He tried to anticipate which cards Ratu might use, considering every angle.

  After he selected his best cards, he reviewed his deck’s curve, ensuring he had a good distribution of card costs and a good ratio of creatures to skills. Everything looked in order. He’d won last time with a worse deck.

  Finally, Deckard looked up, his deck in hand. “Alright. Let’s do this.”

  Ratu grinned, his teeth flashing. “Rules simple, yah? One match. You win; you take any card from my deck. I win; I take one from you. Deal?”

  “Deal,” Deckard answered, feeling his adrenaline spike as the stakes set in.

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