Villain Simulator, Ch 237
"Just wait. It's my turn now!" Shenhe exclaimed as she rolled her dice.
Pyro: 3, Hydro: 2, Cryo: 1, Anemo: 1, Universal: 2.
Seeing the results, Lucas frowned slightly.
Her luck is impressive again—she can summon a Level 5 Combat Card.
However, sweat began to form on Shenhe's forehead as she muttered, "How... how could this happen?"
Lucas immediately realized the problem and smirked. "Don't tell me… you have no summonable Combat Cards left?"
"Damn it…" Shenhe cursed under her breath. "I didn't include any Combat Cards below Level 6 in my deck."
Due to the game's mechanics, summoning high-level Combat Cards—or even those below Level 4—wasn't easy. Players needed Function Cards to adjust dice rolls, much like Lucas had done earlier.
Unfortunately, Shenhe had packed her deck solely with high-level Combat Cards, completely ignoring Function Cards.
"This is what's called being 'stuck,'" Zhongli interjected. "In Genius Invokation TCG, a balanced deck with synergy is essential for victory. Relying solely on powerful Combat Cards will seldom lead to success."
With no summonable Combat Cards or usable Function Cards, Shenhe had no choice but to end her turn.
"Looks like it's my turn again," Lucas said as he rolled his dice. "Here goes!"
Dice results: Pyro: 2, Hydro: 1, Cryo: 1, Anemo: 1, Electro: 1, Dendro: 1, Universal: 1.
Once again, the results were scattered.
"Even with Xiangling's 2100 ATK, you can't finish me off in one turn," Shenhe said confidently. "If I get another turn, I'll turn the tables."
Normally, Combat Card stats corresponded to their level. Cards below Level 5 rarely had ATK exceeding 2000. Even if Lucas summoned another low-level Combat Card, he wouldn't be able to defeat Shenhe outright.
"Unfortunately, you won't get another turn," Lucas grinned. "Using two Pyro dice and one Universal die, I summon 'Large Pyro Slime'!"
[Large Pyro Slime]Element: Pyro | Level: 3 | ATK: 1000 | DEF: 500
Skill: Pyro Aggregation—Gains 500 ATK for each Pyro Element Combat Card on the field (excluding itself).
Normal slimes were typically Level 2, while large slimes were Level 3.
The Large Pyro Slime absorbed the Pyro energy from Xiangling, instantly growing in size. Its ATK increased to 1500.
"You've got another trick up your sleeve?" Shenhe calculated briefly, then said calmly, "But it's still not enough, is it?"
"It's not over yet," Lucas said, drawing a card. "I'll use four dice to activate the Equipment Card 'Moonpiercer Spear.'"
[Moonpiercer Spear]
Equipment Card | Level: 4 | ATK: +500
Effect: When directly attacking a player, deal additional damage equal to the equipped Combat Card's level × 100.
Xiangling's hands suddenly wielded a long, slender spear resembling a needle, and her attack power increased to 2600.
"Wait a second!" Shenhe looked confused. "What's an Equipment Card, and why can it use dice of different elements?"
Zhongli explained calmly from the side, "Equipment Cards are Function Cards. Like Combat Cards, they require dice equal to their level to summon. However, unlike Combat Cards, Equipment Cards can be activated with any combination of dice, as long as the total number is sufficient."
Generally, high-level Equipment Cards have special effects that significantly enhance the equipped unit's abilities.
Since elemental dice are the most valuable resource, summoning Combat Cards is usually the priority. But when summoning is not possible, using Equipment Cards is a viable strategy. With no elemental restrictions, Equipment Cards rarely lead to "dead hands."
This is one of the key differences between Genius Invokation TCG and Yu-Gi-Oh!—the strategic allocation of resources each turn.
"Now, I'll attack you directly with both Xiangling and Large Pyro Slime!"
Under Lucas's command, Xiangling thrust her spear toward Shenhe, while the Large Pyro Slime launched a towering assault.
Of course, this wasn't a "dark game," so these virtual attacks were purely visual and caused no real harm to players.
[Shenhe's HP: 3900 → 0]
"I win!" Lucas grinned. "So, ready to admit defeat?"
"This… this doesn't count! I didn't fully understand the rules!" Shenhe gritted her teeth. "Just wait until I build a new deck and challenge you again!"
Zhongli, observing from the side, wore a thoughtful expression.
She wasn't surprised by Shenhe's performance. For a beginner, the mistakes she made were entirely normal.
Lucas, on the other hand, intrigued her. If he truly was playing Genius Invokation TCG for the first time, his quick comprehension and ability to form a synergistic deck in just half an hour were remarkable.
Though his easy victory was partially due to Shenhe skipping her second turn, his mastery of the rules in such a short time was impressive.
What Zhongli didn't know was that Lucas had a hidden talent, 'Wisdom of the God of Knowledge,' which greatly enhanced his learning and comprehension abilities. The game's similarity to Yu-Gi-Oh! also contributed to his rapid grasp of its mechanics.
[Wisdom of the God of Knowledge: Your learning and comprehension abilities are significantly enhanced.]
For the next several hours, Zhongli patiently coached the pair, mainly facilitating duels between Lucas and Shenhe while providing feedback after each match.
"It's getting late," Zhongli finally said, glancing at a clock on the wall. "Let's stop here for today. I can't neglect my duties at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor either."
"Oh, right…" Lucas suddenly recalled something. "Hu Tao is also competing in the Tianshu selection, isn't she? Don't you need to train with her too?"
"Hu Tao has been playing Genius Invokation TCG for quite some time," Zhongli replied, shaking her head. "In fact, people like you two, who have never played before, are in the minority."
Indeed, as a game that had taken all of Teyvat by storm, Genius Invokation TCG was incredibly popular and widely known. It appealed to players of all ages and backgrounds.
However, Shenhe had spent most of her life in seclusion in the mountains, and Lucas had been traveling incessantly since his arrival in this world. It was no wonder they were unfamiliar with the game.
"I'll leave these cards here for your practice," Zhongli said as she stood. "See you tomorrow."
"Goodbye," the two replied in unison.
As Zhongli stepped outside, she noticed a woman seated in a nearby pavilion. The woman smiled faintly at Zhongli and said, "It's been a long time. Care for a drink? By my count, it's been centuries since we last met."
The woman was none other than Cloud Retainer in her human form-Xianyun, one of the few beings who knew Zhongli's true identity.
When old friends reunite, few words are needed; a glance or two suffices to convey their thoughts.
Though Zhongli was the Geo Archon, her relationship with Xianyun resembled that of equals rather than a superior and subordinate.
"What do you think of that child?" Xianyun asked abruptly.
"Shenhe? I have my plans for her," Zhongli replied. "I assume you're asking about Lucas."
"That man, yes," Xianyun said, her tone contemplative. "Although he seems sharp and refined, I feel that's not his true self."
"So, it's not just me who thinks so," Zhongli mused. "I had a similar impression. Something about him feels… off."
"I didn't want to interfere with Ganyu's matters," Xianyun admitted with a sigh. "But the first time I met Lucas, something about him struck me as peculiar."
"Is that why you're using the Tianshu selection to test him?" Zhongli asked coolly. "It's a reasonable approach."
"But even semi-divine beings can participate in the Tianshu selection," Xianyun frowned slightly. "Aren't you, as the Geo Archon, concerned about this?"
"Semi-divine beings are still half-human," Zhongli explained. "Besides, I don't believe humans are inherently inferior to them. If I were to exclude them, it might diminish humanity's standing instead."
"Ha!" Xianyun chuckled softly. "If Adepti can become part of Liyue Qixing, perhaps one day, a human might become the Geo Archon."
Zhongli's eyes narrowed slightly as she murmured, "A human… as the Geo Archon…"
Realizing her words might have been too bold, Xianyun quickly added, "Just a jest, nothing more."
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