by J. J. Egosi
“I see. It’s an android.” Alexa immediately recognized the dreary tone she’d heard many times from her home dimension.
“Android? What’s that?” Isabella said, her eyes fixated at the witch, as well.
“They’re mechanical creatures with human appearances, usually designed to serve the bidding of others,” Alexa replied.
“In that case, I think Michael may have been right,” said Isabella, “This is Lucifer’s doing.”
“He doesn’t waste any time, does he?” Julianna said.
Stealing their companies and now sicking this mechanical witch on us, Michael thought as his eyes dimmed. Now, he’s moving his pieces in.
“First turn commence. Casting one dark terrain,” the witch said as a massive blackened wasteland appeared, scorching a portion of the open field.
“You’re right. But who should battle her?” Isabella asked as the girls exchanged looks.
Michael took a deep breath and stepped forward. “I’ll do it.”
“You?” the girls asked in unison.
“Is that honestly a good idea?” Julianna asked.
“I know you can summon a titan, but angels really shouldn’t be getting involved in things like this,” Ursula said.
“Yeah, I know. The reality is, though, I can use familiar magic. I don’t know how. I just know that if I don’t use my abilities to their fullest, they’ll be wasted. So let me do this, please. He is after me.”
They all reluctantly nodded.
“Fine. I just hope you know what you’re doing,” said Alexa.
“I’ll be fine. I’ve played Lucifer’s games before,” Michael said while approaching the witch so they were about twenty feet apart and facing one another.
Knowing his integrity in games from experience, I smell a rat, Alexa thought to herself.
The witch looked back at Michael through shadowy fixtures, as he stared at her with confidence. “Proceeding to harnessing phase.”
“Harnessing?” Michael wondered.
“Harnessing one dark terrain to cast orc gathering grounds.”
“Did you say orcs?” Michael stepped back with dread. Soon, a large cave similar to what he saw in his nightmares emerged from the ground.
“Did you see that? She just manifested a cave from the ground,” Ursula said. The others stared, baffled.
“Activating enchantment’s ability. By casting three angel spawn to opponent’s field, cast one orc onto mine,” said the witch.
“I beg your pardon?”
Suddenly, three grotesque puppet-like angels rose onto Michael’s side of the battlefield. He looked at them, overwhelmed with confusion.
“You’re giving me three familiars?”
“What a weird move. The witch starts by giving her opponent a huge lead,” said Isabella.
“Not as huge as she wants you to think. Don’t forget that was a cost to be paid for her real intentions,” said Julianna.
“She’s right. We’re about to see firsthand just how fierce a game of witchcraft can really be,” said Alexa.
“I suppose there’s more to this game than we thought,” Ursula closed.
“Three angel spawn cast. Now casting orc.” From the cave emerged a hulking purple figure with wet jet-black hair, disheveled and partially covering its war-torn face and blood-red eyes.
Michael stared up at the beast, utterly mortified. That beast is just like the one in my nightmare.
He vividly recalled the circle of beasts that surrounded him in his dream long ago and the black dragon that ended it all.
“Don’t give up, Michael! It just looks bad because it’s so much bigger and stronger looking than your angels,” Ursula chanted.
“Thanks,” Michael replied, left now to further acknowledge the blatant size difference between his familiars and the witch’s. The wire-like flies caught in the web of a towering spider. And he was part of its prey.
“Familiars cannot attack the turn they are summoned. Ending turn,” said the witch.
Michael took a sigh of relief. “Good. I was really worried for a second there.”
“You may want to keep worrying,” Alexa said, looking through her device.
“Why? Is something wrong?” Ursula asked.
“Yeah. That orc enchantment of hers. There’s a nasty side effect to having those angels. If Michael doesn’t attack with them, they’re destroyed at the end of the turn and he takes something called ‘trample damage’.”
“That doesn’t sound good.” Isabella gulped.
“It isn’t,” Alexa replied as she continued to read through the pages of her book. “It’s like having the familiar’s life-force drained from you.”
“Oh, no!” said the other girls in unison.
“But Michael can’t attack with those angels. They’re too weak to survive,” said Isabella.
“He’ll just have to be more creative, it seems. Find a way to get around that spell,” Julianna said, looking carefully at Michael.
Michael took a deep breath. “My turn. I cast a light terrain.” The fledgling sun drowning among the black sky above grew brighter as the clouds ceded to its presence. “Then, I attack with all of my angel spawn.”
“You what?” Alexa asked in disbelief.
The puppet-like angels raised their scepters, crashing into the orcs. The orcs mercilessly slew each one of them with the crushing force of their fists.
Michael looked on as the smoke cleared, finding his side of the battlefield empty in a matter of moments. He kept an unphased expression despite his losses—staring blankly towards the witch.
“Why the hell did he do that?” Ursula exclaimed. “He has no forces left.
“And because he doesn’t have to take trample damage at the end of the turn,” said Isabella.
“That was quick thinking,” Alexa said. “He managed to evade the detriments of having them on his battlefield. However, with them gone, he’s at the mercy of a direct attack from that orc.”
“If this is the work of Lucifer, he’s giving us one hell of a crash course on how this game works,” said Julianna.
“Turn two commence. Casting second dark terrain and unharnessing first terrain,” said the witch, as the wastelands grew.
“Unharnessing?” Ursula asked. “What does that mean?”
“That’s another condition of this game, it seems,” Alexa began, “All harnessed lands unharness themselves at the beginning of each turn, making them reusable.”
“Which doesn’t bode well for Michael since it isn’t his turn any longer,” said Julianna.
“Activating ability of orc battling ground. Now doubling forces.”
With the mechanical witch’s words, a second orc emerged from the cave, groaning and swinging his bat as its flesh became exposed to the light.
“Second ability of enchantment. Cast three angel spawn onto opponent’s side of the battlefield.”
Three angel spawn appeared before Michael, just as before. He stared at them nervously.
“A second orc, already? This hardly seems right,” Julianna said.
“What do you mean?” Ursula asked.
“Orcs are powerful creatures. I know that from stories I’ve heard. Based on that, they shouldn’t be this easy to cast,” said Julianna.
“She’s right,” said Alexa, looking over at the witch. “Orcs are some of the mightiest beasts to hail from the third dimension. Yet, this witch casts them forth without a second thought for hardly any cost.”
“What are you implying here?” Isabella wondered.
“I think there’s some serious cheating going on.”
She and the girls looked over at Michael, who tried his best to shroud his fear under a smile.
“Poor Michael,” Ursula said.
“Initiating battle sequence. Orc one, attack angel spawn one,” the witch commanded. The orc charged towards the left-most angel spawn with a decorous roar.
“This is it. I wonder if Michael can stop that witch’s attack,” sa
id Alexa.
“You think he can?” Isabella asked.
“He has a terrain he didn’t harness in his last turn for whatever reason. Perhaps he was waiting to use it for the right moment.”
“I see. So, terrains can be used during either person’s turn,” said Julianna. Alexa nodded in response.
Rather than using his terrain, Michael watched on as the orc took down his angel spawn.
“He still didn’t use it. What is he waiting for?” a flustered Alexa said.
“Harnessing two terrains to cast orc blitz enchantment,” said the witch.
“She’s casting a spell?” All four of them said in shock.
“Battling orc can now attack all familiars the opponent controls. Furthermore, one takes no damage this turn,” said the witch.
“What?” Michael asked, now taken aback.
“My thoughts exactly. A two terrain enchantment can’t be that strong,” said Alexa. She took a deep breath. “I’m sure Michael knows that. He was probably hoping to use those angel spawn to stall out until he had more terrain to cast stronger enchantments. This angel is clearly cheating with overpowered enchantments only Lucifer would know.”
The orc took down Michael’s two remaining angel spawn, leaving his battlefield empty in a fit of growls as Michael shielded his face from the impact.
“What’s worse is when creatures exchange blows; the prevailing beast would take battle damage equal to the strength of the fallen beast until the end of the turn. But, that absurd enchantment even prevents that.” Alexa’s nostrils flared with contempt.
“This is fucking outrageous!” Julianna shouted.
Nearly falling to his knees, Michael panted heavily from the unbridled force of the vicious orc.
“These monsters. They’re every bit as real as I remember.”
“Don’t lose hope, Michael,” Isabella said, looking over at him.
“She right. Get off the ground and teach this cheating witch bitch a lesson!” said Alexa.
Cheating? Michael thought. He slowly picked himself up and smiled. I see now. This test is greater than I thought. Very well.
“Battle phase concluded. Ending turn,” said the witch.
“Then, I guess it’s my turn,” said Michael. The girls looked at him, taken by surprise at the smile on his face.
“I cast my second light terrain,” he said as the sun grew brighter, swallowing a portion of the storm. “And once again, I’ll end my turn without harnessing anything.”
“I know he has no familiars, but what is he thinking leaving himself wide open again?” Isabella asked.
“That dumbass is going to get killed if he gets attacked by two orcs,” said Alexa.
“Maybe he’ll make it,” Ursula suggested in a hopeful voice.
“Doubtful. The first person knocked out in a battle loses. Unless he can withstand the might of two orcs and whatever else the witch throws his way without breaking the rules, he’s finished. I’m just glad this was only a test,” said Alexa.
The witch looked over at Michael and nodded. “Commencing turn three. Casting third dark terrain.”
The wasteland around her grew. The air grew cold with the shadows amassing amidst the competing sunlight.
“Activating orc battle ground enchantment. Doubling forces, once more.” Two more orcs emerged from the cave, roaring ferociously at Michael.
“Four orcs? Not good!” Isabella’s eyes flared with terror.
“Now casting six angel spawn to opponent’s side of the battlefield.”
“Four orcs. Just one thing missing,” Michael said with a smile as the angel spawn appeared before him.
“Now harnessing all three terrains to perform enchantment, storm the castle,” said the witch.
“That can’t be good, either,” Ursula commented.
“It’s not.” Alexa flipped through her book. “Michael’s certifiably fucked. That enchantment does, well, you’ll see.”
A massive black dragon broke from the roof of the cave with a thunderous roar and breathed crimson flames all around the sky. Their hearts skipped a beat, enveloped with terror from the dragon’s ferocious presence.
“Four orcs and a dragon. This seems familiar, somehow.” Said Isabella.
“Then, it sounds like you’ve heard of the legend of the sapphire woods. A dangerous place known for once harboring legendary beasts like the one you see before you,” Julianna said, staring at the army standing before Michael.
“Michael made it a good couple rounds, but in the end, there’s only so much one can take on, god or not,” said Alexa.
“It’s for the best. Angels shouldn’t be tampering with demon magic, anyway. Hopefully, he’ll sort this once it’s over,” said Isabella.
“I don’t know,” Ursula began, “Michael doesn’t seem bothered at all. In fact, he seems to be enjoying himself.”
Lost in discussion, the rest of the girls looked over at Michael, who continued to smile. It was almost as if he was holding back his laughter.
“There’s no way. Does he have a plan to take out four orcs and a dragon?” Alexa exclaimed.
“Dragon’s first ability commence. Double orc forces.”
“That means”—Ursula lapsed, as did everyone else when four more orcs stampeded out of the caves, roaring and swinging their clubs.
Michael’s smile only grew with the army opposing him, unhindered by the presence of a dozen more angel spawn.
“At least his army’s growing exponentially.” Isabella took a sigh of relief.
“And those new orcs can’t attack,” Ursula added.
“Dragon’s second ability commence.”
“A second one?” Julianna shouted.
“Obliterate all angel spawn.”
“All of them?” Michael’s eyes widened with surprise.
“Trample damage inflicted upon destruction,” said the witch.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” said Alexa.
The dragon belched a heavy gush of flames upon the angels, scorching them to an ashen pile of powder. The pain of their demise quickly registered on Michael instead, to which he responded with a hateful glare as the fiery jolts surged through his body. Still, he stood his ground, ready for his next move.
Standing his ground as the pain of fiery jolts surged through his body, Michael looked up with a hateful glare in his eyes.
“That face,” Julianna began, “Michael’s at such a disadvantage, and yet when I look into those eyes, I know there’s no way he could lose. But how?”
“I’m almost starting to feel bad for his opponent. Just one look of that murderous stare and you know there’s something brewing behind it,” said Ursula.
“Even with no familiars … Michael can still”—she stopped mid-thought, as Michael blocked the attack with his scepter.
“He blocked it?” Ursula said, watching as he pushed the giant beast back. “Is he allowed to do that?”
“Yes. You can block up to one direct attack with a weapon per game. Shame it’s only one. And yet”—Alexa could not look away at his unbreakable resolve in his eyes.
“Orc two attacks opponent”—
Before she could finish, she noticed the first orc pushing Michael towards the ground while he fought against its strength.
“Unbelievable. That beast must be thirty feet tall, yet he’s handling it without breaking a sweat,” said Alexa.
“We can’t forget he pretty much did the same with your titan. And that creature was way bigger,” said Ursula.
Alexa nodded along in a trance, and the rest of the girls did the same. The orc’s fist plummeted down onto Michael, primed to crush him. After a moment of silence, Michael rose from the crater his heels dug. With a gritty grunt, he pushed the orc’s fist back with a surprisingly minimal effort—almost as if to belittle the strength of the very beasts that once haunted him, as a way of saying he’d be haunted no more.
“He blocked it with his bare hands. No way,” said Isabella.
“Ending turn.”
“That’s it? She still has three more orcs to attack with,” said Isabella.
“Would you go into battle against an army of one with the capacity to intimidate an orc?” Julianna asked.
Michael looked across with his unbreakable nerve at his opponent. He took a deep breath as he gazed into the beasts before him.
A realization finally hit him. A part of him had known all along since the witch appeared, but now, he fully embraced his theory.
That dream he had in the tavern was no dream, but a vision of the future. A vision foretelling his rivalry with Lucifer. He saw that now. These beasts of his nightmare were merely his first test in defeating Lucifer, and judging by his tactics thus far, Lucifer was not pulling punches. Michael wasn’t shaken though. After all, he still had many moves of his own.
“My turn. And I cast my third light terrain,” Michael announced. The sun grew even brighter than before, engulfing more of the darkness.
“May this ray of light symbolize my hope for a better future as I harness all my terrains.” He then looked over at the girls.
I’ll prove I have what it takes to crush the demon king by crushing this witch android and breaking through Lucifer’s first test. I swear, he thought.
“He’s finally using his terrains,” said Ursula.
“This is it. Someone will lose this turn. I can sense it, somehow,” Alexa said, wide-eyed.
“With three terrains, I cast an enchantment known as ‘revival of the divine’.” An angel spawn descended from the clouds and onto his side of the battlefield as the golden rays cast their light upon it.
“He cast a spawn. But, how?” Alexa said, dumbfounded.
“By waiting until my third turn to harness any terrains, I can perform the spell that will mark the beginning of the end for you.”
“What does that enchantment do?” Ursula wondered.
“And how does he know it?” Isabella asked.
“It must be a memory he regained. I can’t find anything on this enchantment,” Alexa said, flipping through her book. She prepared to move towards her device when she felt a strong gust of wind.
Michael clenched his fists and looked at the beasts before him. “You were a fool to cast all those spawn because now, they’ll be your undoing.”
