After a good night's sleep and a hastily scarfed-down breakfast, Deckard returned to AstroTerra, spawning atop the lighthouse of Trash Islet.
Nearby, 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. If the capsule hadn’t made the transition from playing while sleeping 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, hurrying 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 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 seagull mini-set was sitting in his inventory, waiting to be inserted into the [Dimensional Binder]. 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.
He hurried down the spiral staircase, the rusty metal groaning faintly under his weight. He leaped the last few steps. His boots crunched against discarded shells and debris as he sprinted past squawking seagulls and sidestepped a crab that clicked its oversized claw at him.
He didn’t slow down until the rocky edge of the island came into view. This spot was isolated enough. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one was around.
Satisfied, Deckard pulled out his two new cards. One of them was already familiar:
Burrowing Crab
Rarity: Uncommon
Type: Creature
Affinity: Water
Cost: 1
Points: 0
Effect: +1 for each trap that activates while this is in play.
Deckard allowed himself a small 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, 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:
Trash-Eating Seagull
Rarity: Uncommon
Type: Creature
Affinity: Wind
Cost: 1
Points: 2
Effect: Create an ally [Trash] token here.
Trash
Type: Token creature
Affinity: Darkness
Points: -1
Deckard wrinkled his nose. Unless he had a full lane, playing this card was essentially a waste of resources. Still, it was the final card of the mini-set, and that alone made it exciting.
He opened the binder 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 binder 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].
Tailwind
Rarity: Rare
Type: Skill
Affinity: Wind
Cost: 2
Effect: During the next turn, all wind creatures cost 1 less.
Collection updated.
+0.5 attack speed
Deckard felt a surge of satisfaction. “No way! Another rare card?!”
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 seagulls, you’ve noticed that by flapping their wings as they run, they can quickly change direction. You figure out how to mimic their actions.
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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 had let him. 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 online guides, 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 while throwing cards, 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. 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 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 kept swimming.
“Ahoy!”
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. Was this retaliation for having won against him in Terralore?
The boat drew closer, cutting through the waves. Ratu’s grin never wavered as he raised the weapon. Deckard’s body tensed, ready to dive.
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.
“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 pulled a deck of cards from his pocket. “Rematch, eh! Winner take three cards from loser's 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. “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 and their walls appeared. Deckard drew four 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? Should I wait and see what he has? Or should I put something on the board?
Something about Ratu seemed off. His eyes were bloodshot, and he seemed to have aged in the short time since 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 mist began to clear. The reveal phase had started. On his attacking lane, two shapes emerged.
Crab Enforcer
Rarity: Common
Type: Creature
Affinity: Water
Cost: 1
Points: 0
Effect: +2 if on attacking lane.
Crab Underling
Rarity: Common
Type: Creature
Affinity: Water
Cost: 1
Points: 1
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. Not a creature—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.
Chum
Rarity: Uncommon
Type: Skill
Affinity: Water
Cost: 2
Effect: Shark cards cost one less.
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.
Click this link.
