Illusion?
The moment the card was drawn, Simon felt an inexplicable flutter in his chest—as if some lofty presence had just made its entrance.
Instinctively, he sat up straight from the recliner, eyes locked unwaveringly on the card in Liszt’s hand.
Could this world also have… a “god card”?
He glanced at Tidelys and Sallya. Both girls were wide-eyed and frozen, cold sweat beading on their foreheads.
Clearly, like him, they sensed the oppressive aura radiating from the card.
Noting everyone’s rapt attention, Liszt pressed the card flat on the table and slid it toward the center.
“This was crafted by a friend at the Association using materials I gathered during my travels. My newest trump card.”
“So… care to take on the challenge?”
Simon didn’t answer right away. Instead, he picked up the card first.
【Envoy of Morowen ★★★★★★★★★★ (Ten Stars) Grade A】
【Demigod 15/15】
【Prevents all damage dealt to it. Immune to destruction effects. Unaffected by card effects of three stars or lower. Deals overflow damage to the opponent upon successfully destroying a minion.】
The illustration showed a hurricane twisting flowing clouds into a colossal humanoid form.
Its scale was indescribably vast—one hand alone engulfed entire mountain ranges, treating peaks like casual handholds.
The other hand drifted as white mist, blanketing a forest below. Its head, lowered from the heavens, gazed down like a titan upon insignificant creatures.
Perhaps because Simon wasn’t its owner, his hand trembled slightly the moment he held it.
Yet that pressure only sharpened his excitement.
If a Grade A minion carried this aura… how terrifying must a Grade S truly be?
After a reluctant pause, Simon passed the card to Tidris and looked up at Liszt.
“How’s the challenge framed?”
Liszt closed his eyes and set down his porcelain cup.
“I want you, as a Cardmaker, to find this card’s weakness.”
Simon nodded. “So… just figure out how to remove this minion?”
“Precisely.”
*Got it. Bypass total immunity.*
Simon instantly clicked.
“How to remove XXX,” “how to counter XXX’s effect”—these were eternal debates in card games from his past life.
Thanks to that, he slipped straight into analysis mode.
Immune to destruction. Takes zero damage. Unaffected by effects from three-star-or-lower cards.
Undoubtedly the strongest minion he’d ever seen—practically untouchable.
“Zero damage” meant no minion or spell could harm it.
“Immune to destruction” blocked instant-removal spells.
Low-star immunity prevented a ten-star behemoth from being trivially controlled.
And just *drawing* it? Psychological warfare.
While Simon pondered, Tidris cradled the card with both hands, staring at the 【Envoy of Morowen】 as if witnessing a miracle.
*T-this… is this what a Grade A card feels like?*
Just imagining its astronomical value made her eyes sting—*sniff*—tears of envy welling up.
No mistake. This mountain-sized form was Liszt’s signature style—the very reason for his title, “World-Shaker.”
Realizing it was his masterpiece, Tidris couldn’t help but worry for Simon.
*Could Manager Simon really find its weakness?*
Sallya shared the same thought.
*Why would Grandpa test Simon with THIS card?!*
Though it hadn’t reached her, the aura alone confirmed it: Liszt’s prized creation from his journey.
Under its lingering pressure, she nervously bit her thumb.
She recalled the day he returned—most Grade B Cardmakers had gathered to discuss it. As an elder’s granddaughter, she’d heard their verdict:
“Unsolvable without using more than two Grade A cards.”
A senior fond of her had half-joked, “Sigh… gotta admit it. Old man Liszt’s probably one step from Grade A.”
That’s why even Sallya felt a trace of injustice.
*Did Grandpa truly expect a Grade D Cardmaker to solve this?*
Just as silence thickened, Tidris suddenly raised her hand like a student in class.
“Um… may I ask something?”
Liszt gestured. “Of course, Miss Tidris.”
“After summoning this minion… will it *really* be bigger than a mountain?” Tidelys asked, pointing at the illustration.
Liszt smiled. “Depends. In duels, all minions compress to a non-obstructive size—attributes stay unchanged. But against wild supernatural creatures? Full size remains.”
Simon, silent until now, cut in: “Even if stats don’t change… compression must weaken large creatures’ combat effectiveness, right?”
Exactly. Beyond stats and effects, attack style and size genuinely impact strength.
Take the 【Envoy of Morowen】: at full size, one swipe clears the field, every step deals area damage. Compressed? Probably stuck in one-on-one brawls.
This had always puzzled Simon. Duels felt more real than games… yet oddly game-like compared to actual battles.
“Well…” Liszt mused, “compression does affect power, but within acceptable limits. Otherwise, duels wouldn’t work.”
To him, this was sixty-year-old common sense.
Since even elders couldn’t explain it, Simon refocused on the card.
Silence stretched.
After a long while, Simon shook his head and stood.
*As expected… no answer.*
Sallya felt a pang of disappointment.
*Wait—what was I hoping for? This is normal for a Grade D.*
She patted her cheeks, ready to let go of foolish hopes—then froze.
Simon was scribbling on a sheet of paper.
“Sallya,” he said, slapping the paper onto her table before stretching lazily, “could you gather these materials?”
“What… does this mean?”
A wild, disbelieving yet fiercely hopeful thought shot through her.
“Obviously,” Simon grinned, “to solve the puzzle your grandfather gave me.”
