"Maru spicy!!"
"Maru spicy!!" Across the table, Yotsuba mimicked Hakuto and shouted.
"I haven't even played a card yet! I need healing!"
Jie Xu Sheng, Wine, Fire Slash— Even without the full effect of the Ancient Ding Blade, it was enough to send Hakuto, clad in rattan armor, straight to the grave!
Since Hakuto had simplified the rules to accommodate beginners, there was no rule allowing the monarch to gain extra health.
So his Ma Chao only had four health points, just enough for Yotsuba to cut him down with a single strike!
"Unmatched! Taking the head of thousands!"
"One break! The sleeping dragon emerges!!"
"Double strike! Fame in a single battle!!"
Hakuto, who had been cut down in one blow, leaned lifelessly against Nino, looking utterly defeated.
"I had three Peaches! Why were they all buried?!"
"Haha... Haha... Hehe... Sangokushi Kill is so fun..."
"Hahaha! Unmatched!!"
Itsuki was about to let out a triumphant howl but decided against it.
Finally, the roles were revealed— Miku, Itsuki, and Ichika were rebels, Yotsuba was a loyalist, and Nino was the spy.
So why did all three rebels have to be seated right after me?
Ugh! Fine, take it! Take it!
"Ahhh! Itsuki! Why did you cut down the monarch in one slash?! I hadn't even played a card yet!"
"It wasn't just the monarch! I got wiped out too!"
"Sangokushi Kill is so fun!"
As she spoke, Itsuki eagerly shuffled the deck, clearly addicted to the thrill of eliminating someone in one blow.
Hakuto looked at the smug Itsuki and couldn't help but laugh in frustration.
The rebel boss had the Ancient Ding Blade, the little rebel had a Zhuge Crossbow, and five Dodges...
Hahaha! What was I even playing? Was this some kind of beginner's protection phase? How were the cards this good? Meanwhile, my Ma Chao was stuck without a single Slash!
"Shiratori-sensei, hurry up and draw your identity card..."
Hakuto sighed, then drew an identity card from Itsuki's hand.
"Shiratori is the monarch again?"
"Ahh! I don't want to play chancellor anymore. Itsuki, let me use your Jie Xu Sheng!"
"I swear I just saw God Zhao Yun a moment ago... Where did he go..."
Listening to the chatter around him, Hakuto chuckled, finally coming to terms with it.
"You're right... But! The struggle for the heir has always been this way!"
Play? Do you like to play? I'll let you play! Play, play, play!
God Zhao Yun? Jie Xu Sheng?! Play?!
"Shiratori... What's with this general? Why is there such a massive wall of text?"
Mou Cao Pi's skill description was practically an essay, enough to make anyone's head spin just from looking at it.
"You don't need to understand it. You just need to know how to write the words 'Nightmare Mode' correctly."
Hakuto retrieved the Mou Cao Pi general card from Nino's hand and placed it in front of him, urging everyone to start quickly.
"Found it, God Zhao Yun!"
"Miku, look at this Ji Zhicai. Pair him with your God Zhao Yun— it's absolutely unstoppable!"
God Zhao Yun and Ji Zhicai— people called them the Universe Brothers, and rightfully so.
God Zhao Yun, a two-health general, had a hand limit increase of two and could draw a card both when entering and leaving critical condition.
Hearts acted as Peaches, Spades as Negates, Diamonds as Fire Slashes, and Clubs as Dodges.
Ji Zhicai could acquire his own judgment cards and first assist another player— if that player lost health, he lost health; if they gained health, he gained health.
After losing health, he could conduct a judgment— if it was black, he discarded a card on the field; if red, he designated a player to draw a card (two cards for the assisted player).
Even beginners could see how terrifying their synergy was.
However, after overhearing the conversation between Miku and Ichika, Hakuto simply smiled.
Ji Zhicai? God Zhao Yun? Alright, alright! I don't care if you're loyalist or not— first, let's send you to exile!
Hakuto didn't bother with excuses. As the monarch, he revealed his general cards one by one. However, upon seeing the extensive skill descriptions, the others immediately felt a headache coming on.
Miku and Ichika were busy strategizing their Ji Zhicai and God Zhao Yun combo, completely ignoring Hakuto.
Yotsuba was fighting Itsuki over Dabao's general card.
"I don't understand... But! I only know this one!"
"Heal me, Itsuki! I want to play Jie Xu Sheng!"
"Then I'll keep Jie Sima Yi... Wait, hold on, this God Xun Yu artwork..."
"Huh? What's this? Liu Yan? Let's give him a try..."
Liu Yan, God Zhao Yun, Ji Zhicai, Jie Xu Sheng, Mou Cao Pi, God Xun Yu...
If this lineup appeared in an online game, even the most dedicated players would never be able to afford it.
Hakuto sighed as he observed their choices. It seemed that even beginners could recognize powerful cards.
But it didn't matter! Because—
"The empire is vast, and none are unwelcome! And yet you dare to resist?"
With their generals chosen, the game officially began.
Beginners generally didn't pick their cards based on what the monarch chose— they just played whatever they felt like.
Aside from Nino, no one else even glanced at Hakuto's general card.
Meanwhile, God Generals could choose their own faction, so Miku naturally picked Shu for God Zhao Yun.
But Nino was different— after looking at Hakuto's general card, she hesitated for only a moment before picking Wei!
Ichika also unhesitatingly assigned her assist to Miku.
"Dragon battles in the wild!!"
"Swearing to the heavens! To prove my resolve."
"The Yuan army is nothing but a scattered force. The monarch can break them with strategy."
"Those who invade Wu's borders— I, Sheng, will shatter them!"
"In the afterlife, you will surely feel my emperor's grace."
"How could I have... any treacherous intent..."
Hakuto watched as each general was placed on the table and grinned.
Now, he didn't care how good everyone else's cards were. Even if Yotsuba got Zhang Ba, he wasn't worried! Because—
"The struggle for the heir has always been this way! My decree is already merciful!! Hahaha!"
Without hesitation, Hakuto activated his ability on Ichika, then exiled Miku, stripping her generals of all skills.
"Huh? Shiratori, does that mean... my God Zhao Yun lost all his abilities?"
"Wait, why does Miku only lose abilities for one turn, but I'm stuck as a blank slate for the whole game?!"
"I don't know, I don't know! I only know this! I only know this!"
Hakuto didn't bother strategizing anymore. The only thing in his mind now was—
The struggle for the heir has always been this way! My decree is already merciful!!
With his refined skills, it took just two turns to cut down all three rebels!
"No way! Shiratori-sensei, you can't play Mou Cao Pi anymore!"
Yotsuba leaped onto Hakuto in frustration— that last game had been pure suffering for her!
She had even researched Liu Yan online to play him properly and miraculously drew Zhang Ba!
Zhang Ba, Nanman! She was set to be the governor of Yi Province!
But then she looked up— and saw herself instantly exiled...
"Hey, hey! Yotsuba, don't grab at me! Get off first."
Nino panicked, seeing Yotsuba clinging to Hakuto, nearly kicking her away.
"Yotsuba! What do you think you're doing, clinging onto him like that?!"
"Yotsuba..."
"I don't care! Shiratori-sensei can't play Mou Cao Pi anymore..."
"Fine, fine, I won't..."
But just ten minutes later—
"Ahhh! You can't play Pei Xiu either!!"
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