SHUFFLE OF FATE: A Deckbuilding LitRPG
CHAPTER 19: THE AMBUSH
The sun had set hours ago. A cold, relentless rain hammered against the tin roofs of Sector 7, turning the dirt streets into rivers of mud.
Kai walked alone, his hood soaked through. He wasn't heading home. He was heading to the edge of the district, intending to slip past the blockade and disappear into the wild for a few days until the heat died down.
He turned into "Dead Man's Alley"—a narrow shortcut between two abandoned factories.
Suddenly, the sound of the rain stopped.
The thunder, the splash of his boots, the distant city noise—all of it vanished instantly. The world didn't go quiet; it went mute.
Kai stopped. He stomped his foot. No sound. He tried to speak. No voice.
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[System Alert: Zone Effect Detected]
[Card: Sphere of Silence]
[Effect: Negates all sound waves within a 50-meter radius.]
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"A trap," Kai realized, his heart pounding against his ribs.
Shadows detached themselves from the walls. Four men in leather armor blocked the exit. Behind Kai, blocking the retreat, stood a massive figure in polished steel plate.
Lieutenant Kaelen.
He wasn't smiling this time. He held a massive Greatsword that glowed with a dull orange light.
Kaelen mouthed words that Kai couldn't hear, but the lip-reading was easy enough: *Time is up.*
Kai didn't waste time trying to negotiate. In a Silent Zone, you couldn't beg for mercy.
He drew his deck.
"Summon: **[Plague Rat]**!"
Green smoke erupted from the card, swirling in the rain. The evolved monstrosity materialized—the size of a wolf, with tumors pulsing on its back and drool melting the mud beneath it.
The four minions flinched. They hadn't expected a monster like this from an F-Ranker.
Kai pointed at the minions. *Kill.*
The Plague Rat launched itself with terrifying speed. It slammed into the first thug, sinking its toxic fangs into his shoulder.
The thug opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came out. His health bar turned green—**[Poisoned]**. He collapsed, convulsing.
The other three minions panicked, swinging their swords wildly. The rat was too fast, weaving between their legs and scratching their ankles.
Kai turned to face Kaelen.
*One vs One,* Kai thought. *If I can blind him, I can run.*
He pulled his signature card. **[Flashbang]**.
Kaelen saw the yellow card. He didn't flinch. He didn't look away. Instead, he calmly reached up to his helmet and flipped down a pair of thick, dark-tinted obsidian lenses.
Kai's eyes widened. *He knows.*
Kai tried to cancel the activation, but it was too late. He crushed the card.
*FLASH.*
The alley lit up with blinding white light.
But Kaelen strode through the brilliance unaffected, his goggles absorbing the glare. He moved faster than a man in heavy armor should be able to move.
He swung the Greatsword.
Kai raised his **[Bone Shiv]** in a pathetic attempt to parry.
*CRACK.*
The force of the blow shattered the bone weapon instantly. The impact continued, slamming into Kai's chest.
Kai was lifted off his feet. He flew backward, crashing into the brick wall of the factory.
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[Critical Hit!]
[Damage Taken: -65 HP]
[HP: 35/100]
[Status: Stunned, Ribs Shattered]
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Kai slid down the wall, gasping for air that wouldn't come. Pain exploded in his chest.
Kaelen walked over, sheathing his sword. He didn't want to kill Kai yet. He wanted to send a message.
He grabbed Kai by the throat and lifted him up one-handed. He slammed Kai against the wall again.
*THUD.* (Silent)
Kaelen punched Kai in the stomach with a gauntleted fist.
*THUD.*
**[HP: 25/100]**
Another punch. To the face.
**[HP: 15/100]**
Kai's vision blurred. Blood filled his mouth. He looked past Kaelen's shoulder. His Plague Rat had been surrounded by the three remaining minions. They were spearing it to death.
His deck was failing. His tricks were countered. His body was broken.
Kaelen leaned in close. He lifted his visor, revealing cold, dead eyes. He mouthed the words slowly:
*You should have paid.*
He raised his armored fist for a final, crippling blow. He aimed for Kai's knee. He was going to fulfill his promise to shatter Kai's legs.
Kai couldn't move. He couldn't fight back.
But his right hand was free. And his right hand was resting on his deck pouch.
Rage, hot and blinding, flooded Kai's veins. It wasn't the cold fear of the dungeon. It was the burning hatred of the oppressed.
*They take everything,* Kai thought. *They take our money. They take our freedom. They take our lives.*
*Well, you can have it.*
Kai's fingers closed around the glitching card at the bottom of his deck.
*You want my power? Here.*
He didn't just activate it. He poured every last drop of his remaining Aether into it. He pushed the card beyond its limits.
**[Aether: 0/25]**
**[Warning: Aether Overload Initiated.]**
Kaelen saw the chaotic purple light leaking from Kai's hand. His eyes widened. He realized too late that this wasn't a normal card.
He tried to drop Kai and jump back.
Kai gripped Kaelen's arm. He smiled through bloody teeth.
He crushed **[The Wildcard]**.