Wild cards
Chapter 04
…
Harry walked down the aisle, duel board in hand. He'd surprised himself with the boldness of his declaration. Stanley had been surprised too, so surprised he'd fallen off his seat and dropped his wand.
Harry wasn't sure why he'd been holding his wand, but then he didn't know much about magic.
He walked up to the stage, dropped his sickle in the bag and stepped up to the podium.
John the Destroyer looked at him clearly conflicted, "So, there's no men left in the crowd they have to send little boys to face me?"
Harry looked out at the crowd then back to John, "I guess so."
His answer made John chuckle, "You really think you can beat me kid?"
"No. I've never even played before" Harry said honestly, "but I learned a lot watching you so I'd like to try."
The typically gruff and superior John the Destroyer was taken aback at Harry's earnestness, "Well, spose, since no one else wants to."
"Place your board and insert your deck" the announcer chimed.
Harry put the board down but it refused to engage as the previous one had, much to the young man's consternation.
"Turn it around" instructed the announcer.
Harry did as told, and the board lit up. Harry then took his deck and placed it as he'd observed the previous challenger do. This too lit up, much to Harry's relief.
"You ready kid!"
Harry nodded with an exuberant grin.
"Game Start!"
Harry picked up his hand and drew his first card. Given his very limited experience he felt he had a good starter. Two monsters and four magic cards. The only disappointment was he couldn't use any of the magic cards.
"I summon Plague Riddled Zombie."
He could have fainted with relief when the ghoulie appeared out of a cloud of vile and pestilence.
A 1000 D 300
"I also lay four cards face down" he said, setting his magic cards on the field and ending his turn.
John the Destroyer shook his head and drew his card.
"I summon Cirrus Dragon."
Harry watched the small airy looking dragon appear from a tuft of thin wispy clouds.
A 700 D 500
"Cool" Harry whispered.
The little dragon was weaker than his zombie, 700 to 1000, but the Destroyer wasn't done.
"I activate the enchantment, Strafe the Field."
"This enchantment can only be activated when you control a dragon on the field" the announcer cut in as the Cirrus Dragon rose over Harry's side of the field, "Destroy all face down cards on the opponent's side of the field."
The small wispy dragon puffed up like a balloon then bathed the field in flames. The Plague Riddled Zombie stood unfazed but the magic he'd placed was destroyed.
"Let that be a lesson to ya."
Harry nodded eagerly. He'd had no idea there were magic cards that could do that. He was learning so much.
"I lay one card face down, and that'll do."
Harry drew his card, another monster, and frowned. One of the magic cards he'd lost was for this guy.
"I summon Gopher Soldier."
The bucktoothed rodent stood upright, like a proper soldier, and wore armor of woven twigs and leaves. In its tiny hand, it held a twisty looking branch with a sharp rock on the end.
A 600 D 800
Given his attack was only 600, he would not be leading the charge. The facedown card was a concern but Harry had nothing to counter it, so his only option was...
"Plague Riddled Zombie, attack Cirrus Dragon."
The animate cadaver turned its half-rotted eyes on the floating dragon and lurched forward. The little dragon gave a pitiful wail and dissolved into a fine mist under the zombie's vile digits.
Harry new he was in trouble when he saw the smirk on the Destroyers face.
"Activate, Scent of blood!"
"When a dragon is destroyed in battle, summon another dragon from your hand" the announcer explained.
"Nimbus Dragon!"
A 600 D 500
This dragon was even more delicate looking than the last but it still possessed 600 attack. This left Harry at a crossroads. He could use his Gopher Soldier and destroy it but that would also cost him his Gopher Soldier.
"I didn't know you could summon outside your turn" he said as he considered his options.
"Special summons can be used any time in any turn if you have the right cards" John explained.
That was good to know, Harry thought. He was swimming in the deep end without a life preserver, but it was still better than the Dursley's.
"I end my turn" he declared, choosing to hold onto his Gopher Soldier for the time being.
John acknowledged this with a nod then made his draw. The smile that slid across his face sent a chill down Harry's spine. He'd seen it on his cousins face often enough to know he wasn't going to like what came next.
"I activate Birds of a feather."
"If there is only one monster on your side of the field, search your deck for up to two more of the same type and special summon them to the field. Special summons cannot exceed level 3."
John searched his deck as the announcer explained what was happening and Harry suddenly found himself facing down two Nimbus Dragon and another Cirrus Dragon, learning that you could apparently have more than one of the same card in your deck. Good to know.
"Don't think it ends here lad" John said with a wicked glint in his eye, "I sacrifice one Nimbus Dragon and summon my Ukrainian Ironbelly."
The little cloud dragon went poof as it was swallowed by flame which exploded into the form of a massive potbellied dragon. The 'Ukrainian Ironbelly' was the exact opposite of the Cirrus and Nimbus. Built like a tank it dwarfed everything else on the field.
A 1700 D 2500
The battle was as good as over and Harry knew it.
"Cirrus Dragon, attack Gopher Soldier."
And just like that his rodent warrior and 100 life points were gone.
"And now, Ukrainian Ironbelly, attack Plague Riddled Zombie!"
The bulky tank of a dragon reared back and blasted the undead with a single massive fireball. The zombie groaned as its entire body was rent to putrid black ash.
It surprised both combatants when that black ash swarmed the field.
"Wait… what the hell?"
Harry was too stunned to say even that much.
"When Plague Riddled Zombie is destroyed in battle all monsters not the type undead with attack greater than 1000 become 900. Battle phase is automatically ended."
Well how bout that, Harry thought.
John the Destroyer was less pleased but quickly calmed himself. He was still well ahead in all regards. What could Harry possibly accomplish in one turn that would change that.
"I end my turn" he said trying not to grit his teeth.
Harry drew his next card. It stared back at him as only a snake can, but in triplicate. The Engorged Runespoor had reminded him of the anaconda at the zoo, plus it had three heads which was just bloody wicked.
With an 1100 attack he could destroy any of the monsters arrayed against him, but then what? He knew John the Destroyer had other stronger cards at his disposal. Even taking out the weakest wouldn't be enough to win.
He gave a forlorn sigh, never having expected to win but now that the time had arrived, not ready to lose. Looking at his last summon he noticed something he hadn't before. He read the text, and then again just to be sure.
It couldn't be. He couldn't be that lucky.
"Come on lad, don't have all day" said John impatiently.
Harry smiled, "I summon Engorged Runespoor."
The overlarge serpent gave a triple hiss as it arrived on the field.
A 1100 D 500
John the Destroyer was unimpressed, "So, which monster am I to lose."
"Engorged Runespoor, attack Ukrainian Ironbelly."
The whole snake lunged at the massive dragon but it was only the left head that struck.
"Fine, fine, goodbye Ironbelly" the Destroyer said with a dismissive wave.
"Attack Cirrus Dragon."
"Wait, what?"
The serpent moved and the center head took out the sickly cloud dragon.
"Wait a second!"
"Attack Nimbus Dragon!"
The last head took out the final monster and the game was over.
"What the hell just happened?!"
The announcer gave no reply so Harry explained, "The Engorged Runespoor can attack up to three times in the turn it's normal summoned if I have no other monsters on my side."
John the Destroyer was gob smacked.
"I win" Harry said with a gleeful smile, "right?" I did win, didn't I?"
Silence was his only answer since everyone else was mimicking the unseated King.
"Did I win? I did win, right? Hello?"