Mirage Cascade (Uncommon, Skill)
Effect: Costs 4 AP; creates 3 illusory duplicates of yourself that each absorb one incoming attack before dissipating. While duplicates remain active, opponents' targeted abilities have a 50% chance to hit a duplicate instead of you.
"It's really a good card," Clayton muttered as he analyzed it. he knew even in the same ranks, cards can have huge differences. sometimes a Common card is enough against a Rare or even Unique one. People usually divide cards of same rank in bronze, silver, and gold tiers, and without a doubt this was a gold one, like his own Twin crescent axe
Their cost in the market is so enormous that normal novice students can only hope to buy them after winning a hell of fortune and even in factions, these types of cards, when given to novices, are only given to someone of important lineage or someone who has done a deed worthy of it. Most of the good lower-rank cards are with higher ranks, either with adepts, masters, or people beyond them.
The main issue is not even price here; it is the rarity of good lower-rank cards because, apart from the deck weaver awakening, you can only find them in dungeons killing rare low-ranked arcane beasts, which was a hell of a lot of work in itself.
Clayton was surprised and even amazed that which faction or individual with which dubious motives was giving him this card without even mentioning their name. It was likely a token of trust from them, which means they want to establish a mutual working relationship due to my name being affiliated with the Antigonus house or my strange behavior recently; they do not want to recruit me right away. With this card they want to show me the benefit of working with them, while maintaining the secrecy implies they do not want something from me right away. They will need me probably in future.
Clayton surveyed his apartment again with Reveal, which was a detection-type skill card that allowed him to monitor any presence in the designated radius, one of the dozen stimulus cards he had. Benefit of being rich, he thought. When the card showed one person standing on a nearby building, probably using a Telescopic card Clayton understood one of their other motives.
They want to survey me. to probably gauge my reaction after getting the card to see whether I will get greedy or cautious. They will deal with me in the future according to that information. This card was also kind of a test from them. If I become greedy, they will try to entice me more, or they will try to catch me in my greed. if I am too cautious or paranoid, they will use my vigilance against me any emotion I show will be used against me. The best way to deal with it is to either act or react normally and get their respect. But the latter will get me to attract too much of their attention so either they will pressure me to join or treat me as a threat. I need to put on a performance.
Clayton sighed after he lay on his bed grinning and let the observer watch. he wanted them to see him happy, to see that he thinks he is special so they can feel accomplished, removing the surveillance on him themselves and thinking they got an Antigonus puppet.
He sighed again, thinking just how getting one Uncommon card as a gift could get him in so much trouble and totally alter the course of his academy life. Earlier he was thinking that whoever gave him the card was generous but now he thinks that they got a bargain by putting him in this situation. This incident just made him realize more of the world he was in and the high-stakes game he was playing here.
Clayton slept the whole night and after waking up, he again used a stimulus detection card. When the card showed no presence, only then did he let his guard drop and start thinking about the person or organization who gave him the card. Firstly, he started listing every individual person who could have the means and motive to give him the card and after eliminating most of them, Clayton shifted his focus to the organizations.
He started by eliminating the ones who had the least chance of giving him this card in secret. Gold Fangs is the one organization I have the most association with right now; even though I am not an official member, they will not try to pull one on me this early. Besides, it's not their style; they want people to owe them, to make them their pawn, and while they use schemes, they are far more result-oriented.
He eliminated the Pioneer tower for similar reasons: they don't have what they need and it's not their usual style. People associated with the Iron Ring prefer duels more than things like this; besides, it is filled with my haters since my duel with their star, Charles. they directly want to beat me rather than make use of me or cooperate with me. That only leaves the other three.
I had no contact with the Rose pact so chances are slim but they are there. The most likely is Black Veil, because this is their M.O., and this type of operation is right up their alley. They are hungry for information, so they have motives to test the new prodigy of the talk. Besides, some branches of Antigonus are associated with it so it could be people of my own house power-playing to change the structure. This fits the most.
But there are Rogue factions also present in the academy; even though most are mixed with Black Veil, they also have their own agendas. I really need to get stronger to deal with all this mess.
Clayton was writing his thoughts when suddenly he noticed another notification on his wristband from an Unknown account.