Chapter 6: AGAIN
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The Jingozi’s so-called card game brings forth illusions of mighty champions, each bound to serve its wielder’s will—yet I see in these enchanted battles the same cruel spectacle practiced by lords who pitted their slaves against one another for sport. Though no blood is spilled, the frenzy in the crowd’s eyes betrays the same thirst for dominance. Our leaders hail this as a transcendent form of faction politics, yet I cannot ignore how closely it mirrors those darker days. Beneath its wonder and magic, the same age-old hunger for control smolders.
***
"Flick your wrist like this," Cragmarr instructed as he made five cards appear in one of his hands.
I repeated the motion and summoned my two cards. A new bar appeared at the bottom of my interface.
HAND: [0/0] [0/1]
"Every PVP match starts with all your battle cards and 100 Zii," Cragmarr explained. "The strength of your card remains hidden until all players select and commit the card during their turn. And every card costs 1 Zii to play."
It seemed simple enough. I held up the [0/1] card and mentally confirmed to play it. My Zii and card counts dropped by one.
<ul>
<li>
Zii: 99/100
</li>
<li>
Cards: 1/2
</li>
</ul>
I watched Cragmarr perform the same card selection.
"Okay," I yelled. "Now wh—"
My body launched and accelerated forward as if shot from a cannon. Without thinking, I extended my fist for a punch that hit Cragmarr square in the face.
Pain ripped through my arm as my knuckles bent into unnatural angles. Seven orange coins exploded from the point of impact, accompanied by my blood-curdling screech. It felt like a blowtorch blasting my hand.
CRAGMARR [GOLEM] WINS THE HAND
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<li>
Ember [Ninja]: [0/1]
</li>
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Cragmarr [Golem]: [2/7]
</li>
</ul>
CRAGMARR WINS THE POT
<ul>
<li>
Hand Reward: 2 Zii
</li>
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Card Reward: 7 Zii
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</ul>
The orange coins had landed at my feet, now levitating about an inch off the ground. They arced into the air and disappeared into Cragmarr''s outstretched palm.
I clutched my hand, now mangled with fingers pointing in various directions, as more status notifications appeared.
MATCH LOG:
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<li>
Ember [Ninja]: 92 Zii
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Cragmarr [Golem] 108 Zii
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Cragmarr is now in first position and is first to act.
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</ul>
CRAGMARR [GOLEM] CONCEDES THE MATCH
Do you accept? [YES/NO]
God, yes!
The clearing reappeared as I fell to my knees, cradling my wrist. Although my hand was healed, it throbbed with the phantom pain of bones popping back into place.
“What the hell was that?” I groaned, rolling face-first into some moss.
“I won the hand.” Cragmarr leaned over with a big grin, revealing his rocky teeth.
“Of course you won the hand! Did you see what happened to my hand?"
“You played a [0/1], and I played a [2/7]. My attack was greater. Therefore, I won, and my pot was eight Zii based on the one card you played and my reward of 7 Zii based on the card I played.” He watched me flex my hand a few more times. “All damage in the Jingozi arena stays in the arena.”
Stolen novel; please report.
“That’s kinda what they say about Vegas,” I grumbled.
“I do not understand.”
“Never mind,” I said, my face still smushed in the moss. “What''s up with my deck? I only have two cards. The best I could''ve done was played a [0/1] and still lost."
"You could have spun the card to make it a [1/0]."
"And still lost to your [2/7], right?"
"Yes?"
"Hence my first question."
"As you progress in rank, you will receive more battle cards. Therefore, you must choose your PVP opponents carefully, for they will have more cards."
I rolled onto my back.
"All right, so it''s not just a poker game but a deck builder," I said. "Now, what if I played a [2/5] or something? Same risk score?"
“The attacks would be tied, and our cards would have neutralized each other. It would be a tie turn, and the hand would continue with the remaining cards in our hands until one of us was a winner.”
“You mean we’d attack each other again with another card?” I said. “Like jousting?”
“That is a way to understand it, yes.”
"Can I play the cards multiple times?"
"No."
"So, if I run out of my only two cards before reducing a player to zero Zii, what, I lose?"
“Yes," he nodded. "However, many players concede before that occurs."
"What stops me from filling my deck with [7/7] cards?"
"Jingozi decks are standardized. You cannot add or subtract any battle cards beyond 36. The game is designed to give every player an equal chance for victory.”
“It’s not pay-to-win, you mean.”
“What is that?”
“Sorry, never mind,” I sat up. “Then why did I break my hand? Can’t I just use a gun or something?”
“There are no firearms in Jingozi. But you have the right idea. You can use anything brought into the Jingozi arena as a weapon. Every faction has a different battle style according to its training and culture. But pain is a part of the game. You will be disadvantaged if you do not develop the proper mental fortitude.”
“Can I shoot lasers out of my eyes?”
“If your faction trains for it, yes.”
“What stops me from creating armor and a battle axe against, let''s say, another lame redhead Ninja chick trying to punch me with bare fists?”
“Nothing,” he chuckled. “But you must remember that manifestations that feel real during the game, including weapons, armor, or magic effects, are not different. They do not change the potency of your attacks. Hand-to-hand combat can cause as much damage as a sword or fireball. They only change your experience of the game itself.”
"You''re saying you don''t have an advantage because you''re seven feet tall and have four arms?"
"Correct."
“Well, at least that’s fair. But hang on, if everything boils down to the cards, why are we even training?”
"Let me repeat. Jingozi is more than cards and combat. Players who cannot train their minds make poor decisions during PVP matches and PVE. As you master the body, the game will mentally slow down, allowing you to shift strategy and make better tactical decisions during combat."
"How intense does it get?"
"You shall see." Cragmarr walked back to the edge of the clearing, stretched his neck, and cracked his knuckles.
“Again.”
CRAGMARR [GOLEM] HAS CHALLENGED YOU TO A JINGOZI MATCH
Do you accept? [Yes/No]
***
We played one hand at a time in a series of mini-matches. Cragmarr entered dealer mode, allowing me to use half of his deck.
He chose weaker cards, allowing me to practice relatively unscathed. The injuries still hurt like hell, but knowing they were temporary made them somewhat bearable.
I also trained with weapons, testing various kinds in a Jingozi match. We practiced with wooden staves, rocks, and knives, each with a unique weight, balance, and style. But after a few rounds, I stuck to basic hand-to-hand combat—at least for now. In Vegas, the only weapon I ever carried was a can of mace.
After getting the hang of things, the pace intensified. We worked on combos and stringing together attacks. The training became more demanding, each round pushing me harder, but my skills sharpened surprisingly quickly with every exchange. True to all video game tutorials, it was all designed to give me a sense of confidence and competence sooner rather than later.
Despite my constant complaints—about the pain, the confusion, the sheer exhaustion—Cragmarr remained patient.
After dislocating my shoulder, I was more than done.
“I can’t fight for shit!”
Cragmarr blinked, confused.
“Why would you fight for a shift?”
“I said, shit, Cragmarr.”
“Where would you like me to sit?”
“Really?” I said.
He just stared at me.
“Your language… it is confusing.”
Suspicious, I tried an experiment.
“If I say the word ‘fuck,’ what do you hear?”
“A word in a foreign tongue I cannot comprehend.”
I thought for a moment before it struck me. This was the most absurd feature the Jingozi could have added to their game.
I broke out in hysterical laughter.
“Of course,” I giggled. “A language filter.”
“What is that?” he asked.
I couldn’t stop laughing, plus I couldn''t tell if Cragmarr was legitimately amused or tolerating my hysterics. So, I decided to lean into the absurdity.
“Hey, Crag. Can I call you Crag?” I said, catching my breath.
“Of course. Can I call you Em?”
“Be my guest, Craaaaaag. But I have one more question, if I may.”
“Yes?”
“What happens if I die?”
Cragmarr went quiet.
“Hello? Earth to Crag?” I snickered.
His smile vanished. He picked me up off the ground and planted me on my feet, becoming intimidating for the first time.
“Again.”
CRAGMARR [GOLEM] HAS CHALLENGED YOU TO A JINGOZI MATCH
Do you accept? [Yes/No]
***
I sprawled across a fallen log, every muscle screaming. The bark dug into my back, but I couldn''t summon the energy to move. Cragmarr knelt by the fire pit, stacking wood with his four arms.
I repeated the words in my mind.
A clay Golem.
In another dimension.
Teaching me a magical card game.
Oh, you''re also a Ninja.
The flames sparked to life, casting an orange glow across Cragmarr''s rocky surface. Either this was the most elaborate simulation game ever, or I''d finally cracked, as my therapist had warned. But Cragmarr wasn''t an NPC. He felt real as I observed his gentle movements and straightforward manner.
"You remind me of my bro, Rocky," I said.
Cragmarr looked up from the fire.
"He is your family on Earth?"
"Kind of. He''s a friend. He''s always there when I need him. We should be playing World of Warcraft together right now—this online game. He always picks the healer or support class, just so he can keep me alive." I smiled at the memory. "You two would get along. You''ve got that same... helper thing going on."
"I am happy to serve you the same way." Cragmarr adjusted a log with one of his lower arms. "I believe you will see him again soon."
I watched the flames dance, trying not to think too hard about that statement.
"How much more tutorial stuff do we have to do?"
"Tomorrow, I will teach you PVE." He turned those swirling orange eyes toward me. "But for now, you earned your rest."
I didn''t argue. The fire''s warmth wrapped around me like a blanket, and my eyelids grew heavy. The last thing I saw was Cragmarr''s silhouette against the flames, all four arms working in perfect harmony as he practiced some sort of slow-motion performative dance routine.