Chapter 8: PVE
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They have awakened the magic that slept within our soil, yes and offered us new life. But at night, the stars seem to burn brighter with an unholy flame, as if the very heavens recoil at the bargain struck. I fear we have accepted gifts that cannot be easily returned.
***
Morning dew sparkled on the grass as Cragmarr paced back and forth, gesturing with his four arms.
“To win a Jingozi tournament, you must learn the strategies of every other faction. Every player must possess a champion card to win. In your world and game of poker, you can consider them the royal cards."
An instruction screen popped up in my vision.
CHAMPION CARDS
<ul>
<li>
J - Jester [8/8]
</li>
<li>
Q - Queen [9/9]
</li>
<li>
K - King [10/10]
</li>
<li>
A - Avatar [0/0]
</li>
</ul>
"Beyond the strength of their attack and defense, each champion may also provide bonus abilities during PVP and PVE," he added.
"Got it. How do I get champion cards?"
"They will reveal themselves as you progress through tiers and ranks. Once you reach new tiers, you will be offered upgrades to your deck. Choose wisely as it determines your meta."
"Meta?"
"Metas are styles of play based on your card statistics. They allow you to specialize into card buffs and take advantage of unique abilities."
"Got it."
"Let us review one more time. What are the four types of Ninja classes?"
I rolled my eyes.
"Ember," he grumbled.
"Field, Assassin, Mystic, and Shadow Elven, which I''ll be able to choose when I reach the proper tier—except Shadow Eleven, of course.
"And your current tier and rank?"
"Tier 1, Iron, Rank 10." I counted off on my fingers. "I have it all on my interface, remember?"
"What else?"
"PVP is restricted to faction battles. PVE affects everyone. Card scores multiply with Zii. Death here means death there. Did I miss anything?"
Cragmarr wrung his hands, rocks grinding against each other.
"The Zii-Kata forms—"
"Which I memorized yesterday." I stood up and stretched. "Crag, I got this."
"I know you do. I just..." His orange marble eyes swirled faster. "There is so much more to teach you, but the tutorial only permits basic instruction. The rest you must discover through experience."
The way he fussed made me imagine parents dropping their kids off at school—checking backpacks, straightening clothes, and giving last-minute advice. It was weird to see this behavior from a seven-foot-tall clay Golem.
"Hey." I placed my hand on one of his rocky forearms. "Thank you. For everything. The rescue, the training, even the fish dinner. I wouldn''t have survived without you."
His eyes dimmed slightly.
"You are most welcome, Ember. I wish I could teach you more."
QUEST COMPLETE: JINGOZI TUTORIAL
Complete the Jingozi tutorial.
LEVEL UPDATE
Name: Ember [Doctrine Dealer]
Tier: I [Iron] Rank 9
Cragmarr led me in a Zii-Kata pattern one last time for good measure. I went with it to appease him. But after a few moments, my mind went black. Regaining my senses, I watched a card appear before me.
"Um, is that supposed to happen?" I asked.
Cragmarr hunched over, brow furrowed, and examined the card.
"No," he said dubiously. "I have never encountered this before. We should—"
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
I touched it.
Before either of us could react, a red blur of smoke streaked toward me. A shadowy red Ninja materialized and buried a fist into my chest. Cragmarr attempted to tackle the apparition, but his body passed through it, sending him tumbling.
Intense pressure radiated through my body, so overwhelming that blood seeped from my eyes, nose, and ears. I vomited, the dark crimson splattering across my attacker. But the vomit wasn’t blood—it was acid. Burning through the ninja’s mask, the acid revealed a face that was the spitting image of mine. I stared into the eyes of my doppelganger before her flesh began to sizzle and corrode, melting away until she was nothing more than a puddle of steaming ooze.
The vision snapped away as fast as it had come, and I found myself on the ground, clutching my chest and gasping for air. My heart pounded in my ears. Cragmarr was at my side, cradling my head. He said something, but it sounded all garbled. I fought to stay conscious, but the world blurred and darkened.
When I awoke with an unbelievable migraine, Cragmarr was holding me in the same position.
YOU HAVE RECEIVED A SPELL CARD:
Blood Strike
<ul>
<li>
PVP: Pay 1 Zii to attack plus +1.
</li>
<li>
PVE: Pay 1 Zii for a random attack plus +1.
</li>
</ul>
STATUS:
Name: Ember [Doctrine Dealer]
Tier: I [Iron] Rank 9
Faction: Ninja [Field]
Zii: 100/100
Cards: 2/2
[Error]: 1/1
Deck:
“Woah,” I groaned. "What the hell was that?"
“I do not know," he replied. "That was most concerning. You are not meant to receive any spell cards this early."
"That wasn''t part of the tutorial?"
"No."
***
After checking my inventory, I noticed a new tab next to my card deck. It was labeled with garbled question marks, like some error.
Lying on my back, I stared at my new spell card, still groggy.
Blood Strike
<ul>
<li>
PVP: Pay 1 Zii to attack plus +1.
</li>
<li>
PVE: Pay 1 Zii for a random attack plus +1.
</li>
</ul>
Cragmarr sat on a log beside me, hunched over in a thinking pose. His eyes narrowed, and he frowned in contemplation.
“It is perplexing, indeed,” he said. "All players receive spell cards for PVE. Yours is a hybrid for PVP as well. There is no such thing, and the Jingozi did not mention additional cards. Unless…"
"Unless?" I said.
"It is best that you do not speak of these new cards, especially to the Jingozi," he said. "Others will not know you are from another dimension. Revealing these extra capabilities will only make you a more significant target."
"Target?"
"The Jingozi designed the game to be fair. You now possess an unfair advantage if those cards represent what I believe. There appears to be more to your arrival than anybody expected."
"And what if it happens again?"
"Receive them as gifts but refrain from utilizing them in a way that attracts attention. There must be more at work here than we understand now. But we do not have time to explore it at the moment."
"Got it. Do you think it''ll be that painful every time?"
“Most likely. But it appears it is getting easier for you. You were only unconscious for two hours this time.”
“You’re one of those ‘glass half-full’ guys, aren’t you, Crag?”
“Why yes," he brightened. "If that implies what I think, I am Em. Thank you.”
***
We planned to travel south through the mountains into Samurai territory. The Ninja faction hid amongst Samurai villages, and I was to find them to continue training.
After clearing camp, we trekked south for two days, making casual small talk. Cragmarr knew a surprising amount of our history, from the Roman Empire to 9/11, which gnawed at me. How many times has he done this?
By that time, I was sick of fish. I’d chew on a little jerky ration every night, pretending it was steak. Cragmarr taught me to forage for wild berries with flavors like energy drinks. A jumbo mushroom tasted like a sponge cake with fragrant herbs.
The forest grew dense with jagged piles of bamboo stalks, making the path so treacherous that Cragmarr hoisted me onto his shoulders. And the bugs were getting weird—some resembled butterflies made of toothpicks, while others were flying beetles reminding me of miniature attack helicopters.
He set me down on a rock by a river, and after a quick breather, we followed the stream. The bamboo was so tall I couldn’t see past either bank. It was scenic and ominous at the same time.
“Once we enter the mountains, you must go alone,” he instructed. “Complete your quests during the day and light three fires at night before you sleep. That will signal the other factions not to interfere with your Jingozi trials.”
“Again, with the trials,” I said, stopping. "Like, I''m gonna get tested?"
Without breaking stride, he continued, “Yes. The Jingozi will put obstacles in your path. The better you fare, the faster you level.”
“How will I know where you are?”
“You will not. But I will track you at all times.”
“How, exactly?”
“The Golems surrounding you will communicate with me. Some will only observe, while others will be less… friendly. Be careful and trust nothing. You will—”
I jumped in front of him.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes, these are your trials,” he said, pointing behind me. “Ember, Jingozi dealer of the Ninja faction, you now enter PVE.”
I turned to see a giant cliff just past the bamboo line.
NEW QUEST: THE TRIALS
Survive 40 days of PVE with no assistance from your tutorial guide. Prove yourself worthy as a Jingozi dealer. Earn Jingozi tokens as currency to complete your quests.
[0/40] Days Complete
I burst into tears.
***
I don''t know how long I''d been sitting on that rock, sobbing like a baby. It was frankly embarrassing.
Get a hold of yourself, Ember.
Tears fell onto my Ninja uniform while the wind whipped my red hair around my face. The composure I''d managed to maintain up until now had utterly shattered, leaving me feeling raw and exposed in a way I hadn''t experienced since leaving Tokyo behind all those years ago.
Ironically, I never had issues being alone as a kid. It served me well, mainly because poker is a solo sport. On the one hand, we’re constantly surrounded by chatty people. But on the other hand, when the pots reach six figures, we’re never more isolated. Players scrutinize every decision and twitch, waiting for you to drop the poker face and betray your hand, even for a split second.
Having been on my own for six years, I preferred it and was proud of my independence. But the prospect of being alone for forty days in this world was about to break me.
Cragmarr stood in silence. He didn’t try to console me. Some might say his approach was cruel, but the more likely explanation was he’d been through this before.
Through swollen eyes, I calculated my direction by the sun. The river flowed south.
I started walking.
Cragmarr watched silently as I disappeared downstream.
***
After another hour or so, the regret sank in. I considered turning back, but it was getting dark. I had to find shelter and light three fires.
What the hell is wrong with you, Em? Why do you have to be such a bitch?
The day I left my Japanese family, they stood on the platform as I left Tokyo by train—nobody said a word. I hadn’t been back since.
I’m such a shitty person.
I found a small opening between the rocks and squeezed into a pocket. It was cramped, but it would do at least from any PVE threats I could imagine. Frankly, I didn’t have the energy to light one fire, let alone three.
After wrapping myself in the silk scarf, I closed my eyes.