HC: Card Slinger | Ch. 42 - Off the Hook?

After a good night's sleep and a hastily scarfed-down breakfast, Deckard returned to AstroTerra, spawning atop the lighthouse of Trash Islet. The faint sound of waves crashing against the rocks below mixed with the distant mews of seagulls, a welcome improvement over the hum of passing cars outside his apartment.

Around him, players clustered near the grizzled NPC, handing over items with eager grins as flashes of light signaled their level-ups. Others in the islet prepared to contest the next two elites, adjusting their gear and strategizing.

I’m finally back in the game! Deckard thought, a grin stretching across his face. If the capsule hadn’t made the transition from dreaming in-game to real sleep seamless, he doubted he could have shut his eyes at all. The thrill of success and not knowing what would happen once he completed his seagull collection had been too much. He’d practically inhaled his breakfast just to get back online.

Yesterday, he’d pulled off a major heist, snatching victory from under the noses of the other players. None of them had been able to stop him—but that didn’t mean he was safe. If anyone had recorded the battle and analyzed the moment the Trash-Eating Seagull disappeared, they might have noticed the flash of light coming from the trash pile. 

Attention was the last thing he wanted right now; it would make capturing other elites or wild bosses on the island far more difficult. The element of surprise and other players’ ignorance about his class were his greatest allies right now.

But his curiosity burned like a fire. The last card of the mini-set was sitting in his repository, waiting to be unlocked. Deckard knew from experience that completing a set usually triggered something flashy, akin to a level-up effect. He couldn’t afford to draw attention to himself here, no matter how badly he wanted to see what happened.

With that in mind, Deckard hurried down the spiral staircase, the rusty metal groaning faintly under his weight. He leaped the last few steps, landing among piles of trash littered across the islet. His boots crunched against discarded shells and debris as he sprinted past squawking seagulls and sidestepping a crab that clicked its oversized claw at him.

He didn’t slow until he reached the edge of the island, where jagged rocks jutted into the open ocean and the salty breeze whipped at his face. This spot was isolated enough. He glanced over his shoulder one last time to make sure no one had followed him.

Satisfied, Deckard pulled out his cards. Finally, he could inspect the loot.

He started with the two cards he’d captured. One of them was already familiar:

Deckard allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. That smug player had offered to trade this card with him, but Deckard had refused, trusting his ability to capture it on his own. Now, holding the card in hand, he felt vindicated for sticking to his instincts.

The second card, however, was new to him. He turned it over in his hands, studying the illustration of a scrappy seagull perched atop a pile of garbage:

Deckard wrinkled his nose slightly in annoyance. Unless he had a full lane, playing this card was essentially a waste of resources—resources that could be better spent on something more impactful. Still, it was the final card of the mini-set, and that alone made it exciting.

He opened the repository and placed the seagull card against its pages. The nanites sprang to life, enveloping the card in shimmering threads before sucking it in. The entire set of cards began to reorganize in a mesmerizing display of light and motion. Deckard’s anticipation grew with each passing second as the repository vibrated in his hands. Finally, the notification he’d been waiting for appeared:

Collection updated.

+0.2 attack

+0.2 attack speed

Congratulations! You’ve captured all seagull cards from the Island of Beginnings ecosystem.

Your repository cross-references all genetic information, and you obtain new knowledge of this ecosystem.

You’ve received [Tailwind].

Deckard felt a surge of satisfaction. “No way! Another rare card?!” He adjusted his spectacles while smiling, already imagining the possibilities. Cost reduction was always powerful. Many cards that had to be nerfed or removed from competitive play in Nova Cardia had been cost-reduction cards.

[Tailwind] only reduced the cost of wind-affinity creatures, and so far,  seagulls were the only ones Deckard knew about. Crabs and turtles were obviously water-affinity creatures, but AstroTerra was a massive game. He was sure he’d encounter more wind-affinity creatures eventually. This card’s potential would only grow.

What he really was looking forward to finding out, though, was the skill he would unlock for completing this milestone. Tapping his foot impatiently, he waited for the system to calculate. Finally, the second notification appeared:

You’ve unlocked a new skill: [Seagull Dash].

Seagull Dash (Common)

Description: By observing the seagulls, you’ve noticed that by flapping their wings as they run, they can quickly change direction while running. You figure out how to mimic their actions.

Effects: Active. Dash a short distance.

Cooldown: 20 seconds.

Energy cost: 5.

Deckard nodded approvingly. He would have learned [Seagull Dash] before if his class let him. It was a good addition to his skill set. Since his main strategy revolved around kiting mobs, this short-distance dash would increase his DPS significantly. He’d be able to sling a few extra cards before making a run for it. The dash wasn’t too long, but the skill was energy-efficient and had a low cooldown. He’d be using it a lot.

Satisfied, Deckard turned his attention to the loot he’d picked up from the [Burrowing Crab]. Among the items was a jagged piece of shell. 

According to guides he’d read, the grizzly lightkeeper would trade it for a spear, part of a mini-set that also included a cape given out in exchange for a similar item dropped by the Trash-Eating Seagull. Together, the set offered a strong attack bonus. Unfortunately, he hadn’t managed to scoop up the loot from the Trash-Eating Seagull, so completing the set was out of the question. 

Even if I had it, I wouldn’t be able to use the spear, Deckard told himself. 

Giving his inventory one last glance, Deckard decided it was time to go.

He crossed the island, reaching the shore facing the village. He climbed down the rocks and jumped into the water. Bracing himself, he began the long swim back. 

As he swam, he reflected on his short stay at Trash Islet. Competing for wild elites wasn’t easy, but this trip proved that he could hold his own in his own way. He wasn't sure of how long he would manage to keep avoiding a direct confrontation with other players, but he would hide his trump cards from the other players for as long as possible.

The surf became clear of debris as he swam away from the islet. The village’s outline grew sharper with each stroke. Deckard’s arms moved in a steady rhythm, the cool water lapping against his face.

Out of the corner of his eye, a shadow shifted on the water. A boat? He turned his head slightly, catching sight of a small wooden vessel bobbing on the waves. Its silhouette grew larger as it approached.

Probably just a fisherman, Deckard thought as he resumed swimming. 

“Ahoy!”

I recognize this voice. Deckard froze mid-stroke as he turned toward the voice. A figure stood on the boat, waving an oar in the air. For a moment, Deckard squinted against the sun, hoping he was wrong.

No. It can’t be.

But it was.

Ratu.

The islander NPC’s familiar, wiry frame balanced on the rocking boat, his tattered clothes flapping in the breeze. His grin, wide and toothless, was as unsettling as ever. Ratu leaned forward, reaching for something lying at his feet. When he straightened, Deckard’s stomach dropped. In his hands was a long, spear-like weapon with a wickedly curved hook at its tip.

He’s going to kill me! Deckard thought, his mind racing as he trod water. His breath quickened. Was this retaliation for having won against him in Terralore?

The boat drew closer, cutting through the waves with surprising speed. Ratu’s grin never wavered as he raised the weapon. Deckard flinched, preparing to dive to avoid the strike.

With a swift motion, Ratu thrust the weapon forward.

The hook caught on Deckard’s clothes, yanking him forward with a force that knocked the air from his lungs. Before he could react, Ratu gave a mighty tug, and Deckard was hauled out of the water like a prize catch. He flopped onto the deck of the boat, gasping and sputtering, seawater pooling beneath him.

“Gotcha, fish-man!” Ratu bellowed, his laughter booming across the waves.

Deckard lay there for a moment, stunned and soaking, as the reality of what had just happened sank in. He wasn’t dead, but he wasn’t sure if he was safe, either. His heart pounded as he looked up at the grinning NPC holding the hooked weapon. 

“What was that for?!” Deckard wheezed, trying to catch his breath.

Ratu leaned down, his grin widening as if he hadn’t a care in the world. “You floppin’ ‘round like a fish, eh? Thought I’d do you a favor.” He slapped Deckard on the shoulder, nearly knocking him over again. “Now you safe on Ratu’s boat, yeah!”

Safe wasn’t exactly the word Deckard would’ve used, but he decided to keep that thought to himself. He sat up slowly, his clothes dripping onto the wooden planks as he eyed the NPC warily. 

Whatever Ratu had planned, Deckard had a sinking feeling his journey to the village was about to take an unexpected turn.

Ratu took a deck of cards out of his pocket. “Rematch, eh! Winner take three cards from your deck!"

Deckard hesitated. “Three? Are you sure? Isn’t that a little much?”

Ratu clenched his hook with a force that made his knuckles whiten. He adjusted his grip so that the pointy end of the hook faced Deckard. "You look tired, foreigner. Maybe you wanna nap with the fishes, eh?"

Deckard forced a laugh, masking his unease. “Fine, fine. Three cards it is. Just give me a moment to get myself ready.” He grabbed his repository and began organizing his deck. 

Since their last match, Deckard had added several new cards to his collection. This was his chance to test them out. The key was bringing together his starfish, seagulls, and crabs into a cohesive strategy. After double-checking his decklist, he nodded. “I’m ready.”

Ratu’s lips twisted into a grin. “Good!”

The hologram of two castles surfaced, shimmering into view as mist rose between them. Deckard drew five cards, glancing over the battlements at Ratu. The man stood hunched, clutching his hook as though it grounded him. What kind of deck is he running? Deckard wondered. Foxes again? Or something entirely new?

He studied the cards in his hand. Should I wait and see what he has? Or should I put something on the board?

He glanced at Ratu. Something about him seemed off. His eyes were bloodshot, and he seemed to have aged in the short time he hadn’t seen him.  If Ratu was as desperate as he looked, waiting for him to make the first move could be a mistake. 

Passivity isn't an option here. Sometimes, you just have to take the first step.

After a moment’s thought, Deckard played two cards and discarded the rest. As the mist began to lift, he leaned forward.

The reveal phase began. On his attacking lane, two shapes emerged. 

First came the crab enforcer, claws snapping in anticipation. A moment later, the smaller crab underling scuttled into view, darting around its larger counterpart. 

On Ratu’s side, the mist revealed a single card. It was a skill. The sky above shimmered as holographic chunks of fish guts rained down, splattering across the battlefield and leaving ripples as though the ground were water.

Deckard’s stomach turned. He glanced at Ratu, whose grin had widened into something feral. Despite the bloodshot gleam in his eyes and the two crabs bearing down on his lane, Ratu seemed... eager. Hungry. It made Deckard’s skin crawl.

He swallowed hard. I don’t know what a shark deck looks like, but I’ve played enough Nova Cardia to recognize a ramp deck when I see one.

Ch. 41 - Trash Battle

INDEX

Ch. 43 - Ramp