Page 110 of Light Leech

I leaned over and inspected her card.

Heaven’s General Sha of the Journeymen. The image was that of a green fiend whose physique was even more rigid than Zhu. A variety of chains and jade ornaments adorned his body with a cracked jade pendant on his chest atop white armor with glowing blue lines that appeared to be sparking out like the light in his eyes. He clutched a giant staff with a wide blade on the bottom and a bi-pronged fork on the top with a lightning bolt between them.

I glanced at the abilities below the health status, noting the same array of abilities next to the numbers one through four.

She looked to the side, gave the other competitors an enthusiastic goodbye as she pushed me to a more secluded area of the cosmic chamber.

She whispered as she returned my card. “How do they know about our Gui?” Any remnant of frivolity had vanished from her voice. “Does this not bother you?”

“Of course it does. Do you think this had anything to do with us using our Gui?”

“Probably? I placed the best cognitive walls I could on us prior to entering, but something that can create and manipulate us like this probably doesn’t have a problem reaching into the depths of our minds.” She sighed. “Best think about it later.”

“Right. If we lose, this won’t matter.”

She scoffed. “We’re not losing this one.”

“I appreciate the confidence, but–”

“Pet, if there’s anything I’m qualified for, it’s this.”

“What do you mean?”

She flipped the card over, furrowing her brow in slight disappointment. “Where’s the logo?”

“You know this game?”

“Of course I do. It’s Luminate League.”

“That neurospace card game you were talking about?”

“The very same. I wish Boyband were here to see how not-stupid this is.”

“Is it hard to play?”

“The mechanics are pretty simple, but the strategy… it’s like chess. I mean, the game is different, but the idea is the same. You’ll have no problem as long as these people don’t have any experience, which I doubt.”

“I had only heard it mentioned like once or twice before you did. Is it really that popular?”

“In these circles? Yeah. I’m sure we’re surrounded by pros.”

“Because they’re a bunch of try-hard nerds? I mean, that kind of fits you–”

“Shut up.” She paused. “Take me, add more corporate and incel, and that’s your classic space-filler player. The best though, are the people you would never expect. Some teenage girl who owns a social-net cult and dominates the algorithm with persuasion based on her League victories. Some dad working a Yellow District level job but can afford to live in the blue based on League gambling. Indigo level CEOs who earn each other’s respect based on League proficiency. Anyone who doesn’t look like they play, might play, but you can count on most self-proclaimed Scholars being able to hold their weight in a match. You plug?”

“I guess.”

“Don’t worry though, I’ll help you with some tricks once things get moving.”

“You’re sure you’ll be able to?”

“Not really, I just wanted to make you feel better.”

“Are you serious?”

“What? We’re being handed cards that shouldn’t exist in the game, so we can expect the rest of the deck to be made up by this system. I’ll try my best to help out, but seeing how our Gui are actually the cards, I figure they’ll be able to help make up for what you lack in experience.“ She inspected her card. “I’m guessing the rest of the deck will carry some kind of theme related to these ones.”

“If our decks are based on our Gui, what do you think everyone else will have?”