After walking for a while, I return to the city of Masadora, and I am greeted again with the fantastical sights of bubbles floating in the air and NPCs creating fire and other elements from their hands and wands in street performances. It's truly a sight to behold, but I have things to do, and without stopping to appreciate the magical entertainment, I head to the Trade Shop.
"Welcome. Please come in." The NPC in charge of the counter says.
"Hi. I'd like to withdraw 350.000 jenny from my account, and also know who the top-ranked players are currently." I say, approaching the counter.
"Very Good. Here are your 350.000 jenny." He says, handing me the 10 jenny cards. "As for the current ranking; Tsezguerra holds first place with 80 restricted slot cards, followed by Kess with 66, Barry and Rodriot with 64, Kazsule with 57 and Asta with 53."
'As I suspected, Tsezguerra's team is already ahead, and they're probably trying to monopolize some of the cards. Nickes and his team aren't even in the rankings. It was a good decision to decline their invitation.' I think when I hear the ranking.
"If you're interested, you can find out which cards they have in particular for a fee." The NPC adds.
"No, this is fine. Goodbye." I respond, leaving the shop.
Before heading to the Spell Card Shop to buy packs of new cards and try my luck, I sit on a park bench and open the Binder to check my cards in free slots.
The vast majority of them right now are the "J10.000" cards I just got from the Trade Shop, some food and drink cards I have left, and the spells I stole from that player at the beginning.
'I had to use a lot of the supplies on my way to Masadora, so I'll need to replenish them. Also, I should try using some spells to make more space.' I think, taking the same first card I used in the game.
"Defensive Wall On." I say and the card disappears, transformed into light in my hand. "Okay, that protects me once. Next."
The next card I use is one of the "Peek" cards to see the free slots of the only player I've encountered so far and whose name I know; Jispa.
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"I suspected as much. Let's try one more time." I say repeating the process.
This time it works, and I'm able to inspect Jispa's cards; mostly everyday objects, some useful spells, and a designated slot B-rank card. What is expected of the Nickes' Alliance.
'That makes it for the cards I can use right now to save space. Now let's review some rare cards.' I think while placing the "List" card in the binder folder.
Thanks to the secret trick that Asta explained in the manga, I am able to draw four of the cards on the drop-down list while keeping the same "List" card: Patch of Forest, Blue Planet, Fortress and Eye of God.
Of the four, "Patch of Forest" and "Blue Planet" are not in anyone's possession yet, but there are 3 people with 8 copies of "Eye of God" and 4 people with 7 copies of "Fortress", so it seems that getting those cards won't be easy for the time being. so after one last check with "Peek," I close the binder and head straight to the Spell Card Shop.
After walking for a while across the magical street, I reach the queue that stretches for about 40 meters from the store entrance, and after waiting for about 2 hours, my turn finally arrives.
"Welcome to the spell card shop." The cute NPC greets me with a big smile.
"Here in this shop, you can browse the packs displayed on the different shelves and choose the ones you want to buy. Would you like a detailed explanation of how the spell card acquisition process works?"
I would normally skip an explanation about a topic I already know... "Yes, please proceed." ...but not this time.
'I haven't interacted with any girls in almost a month, apart from Ponzu when I call her. I need some live interaction with the opposite sex or I might regress to my old problems, and she's an NPC so it's not an issue.' I think, trying to justify my actions.
After the pretty shopkeeper gives me an explanation of how buying and acquiring cards works, which includes the fact that you can't use "Gain" with spells or items while the player is inside the shop, I choose the 35 packs to buy and open them after paying the 350.000 jenny.
- 16 List
- 10Peek
- 8 Fluoroscopy
- 2 Return
- 6 Defensive Wall
- 3 Recycle
- 3 Clone
- 6 Lottery
- 4 Guidepost
- 2 Purify
- 1 Accompany
- 5 Contact
- 2 Bullet
- 1 Holy Water
- 4 Blackout Curtain
- 4 Drift
- 4 Pickpocket
- 3 Fake
- 8 Rock Toss
- 5 Analysis
- 1 Cling
'Neither "Fortress" nor "Eye of God" worked, and many of them are useless for me. Well, it was normal that the S-rank cards didn't come out on the first try. Looking back, I did get some good cards. Especially the A-rank card, Holy Water.' I say, looking at the water pitcher card.
With the question of how I should take advantage of this A-rank card aside, I familiarize myself with their effects and capabilities of the cards I've gotten until I finally choose the 35 to keep.
- 6 Lottery
- 1 Analysis
- 1 Holy Water
- 1 Cling
- 3 Clone
- 3 Drift
- 1 Blackout Curtain
- 3 Recycle
- 2 Purify
- 5 Defensive Wall
- 3 Fake
- 4 Guidepost
- 2 Return
'I don't have any cards from the restricted slots yet, so I'm sure I'll be surrounded by several players as soon as I get one, and I've already checked that not all spells can be reused with the folder trick, so this is the most appropriate composition for the moment.' I think, looking at my collection as I leave the store.
After walking a while to make sure no one is following me, I place one of my "Return" cards in my folder and select the Antokiba option. Immediately afterward, I experience for the first time what it's like to be transported using a spell card: fleeting and automatic.
After being enveloped in the spell's light, I can't see the path I am taking through the air from Masadora to Antokiba; I just wait a few seconds surrounded by light until I appear on the plain near the town. I don't even have to bother getting into position for landing; I simply appear already in the correct stance.
"I see. Okay, time to try our luck." I think aloud as I pick up several copies of "Lottery".
Fun fact from my testing: you can transform multiple item cards if you hold them while saying "Gain", but spell cards can only be activated one at a time, even if they are the same type of card without a target, like "Lottery".
As expected, nothing worthwhile appears, just useless cards. This is to be expected since there are over 25.000 cards in the game, so without the use of the "Risky Dice," getting a restricted card is, as the name suggests, a lottery.
Discarding the junk cards, and activating "Blackout Curtain", I enter the city and head to the Trade Shop to restock, and there I notice the new restricted slots cards they have available: Book of V.I.P Passes and Long Lost Delivery.
I ignore the high price and buy three copies of both of them along with several other supplies for my trip. However, as soon as I leave the store, I feel several eyes on me, and after a while, a group of at least 10 people appears surrounding me with their binders already open.
"Did you want something from me?" I ask, feigning innocence of their intentions.
"We know you bought the two cards they were offering in the Trade Shop. Honestly, pretty foolish of you to try and fill the restricted slots on your own. It's obvious you're just a newbie."
"The best strategy is to try and accumulate those cards once you've joined a team. Otherwise, groups with more players and cards, like ours, will take them from you."
"Although trying to get several copies in case they were stolen was a clever move, in the end it won't help you against a big team like ours."
"We've got you surrounded, so don't even think about escaping. We'll chase you down and bombard you with spells until we get what we want."
"You're going to hand over the copies of the cards you bought, as well as any other B-rank or higher cards you have in your free slots. You have no choice as we outnumber you. Don't make us waste spells." Finally, the one who appears to be the leader demands.
"Book." I say, making the binder appear and taking out six cards.
"Oh, good that you understand. It looks like we've stumbled upon an obedient one, so we won't have to try too hard. Ha ha ha."
But contrary to their expectations, I don't prepare to hand them over, but instead place one of them in the binder folder.
"Contarch, Latiare, Michel, Shihael, Nomdieu, Kelek, Milia, Romero, Bertran and Yanagida. Okay, I have all your names. It's time for the game to begin." I say this while grinning impatient for the challenge and taking one of the cards in my other hand.
Point of View Switch: Reader
"Trace on! Attack on Shihael!" Kai yells, using the card.
To the surprise of the other players, the spell hits their partner, who irritably takes a card. "Bastard! You brought it on yourself! Thief on! Attack on Kai!"
The player named Shihael tries to answer back with "Thief", but his binder displays the message <
"He has no copies in the restricted slot! We have to use "Pickpocket"!" Nomdieu states.
"Cling on! Attack on Contarch!" Before the group has time to act, Kai activates another spell against one of its members.
'So fast! He doesn't look like a rookie!' Contarch thinks.
"Pickpocket on! Attack on Kai!" Nomdieu tries to cast the spell, but the light scatters when it collides with Kai. "Huh?"
"Defensive Wall on!" Before the message can even pop up in Nomdieu's binder, Kai is already activating his next spell. "Trace on! Attack on Nomdie!"
"Damn it! Don't let him breath! Pickpocket on! Attack on Kai!" Romero yells using the spell.
"Defensive Wall on!" Kai uses it again.
"Pickpocket on! Attack on Kai!" Contarch yells this time.
"The last card! Use "Return"! To Masadora!"
Using the last card in his hands, Kai propels himself into the sky enveloped in a beam of light, leaving his assailants behind.
"Damn it! If he has spell cards at his disposal, then he's no novice. Shall we go after him? We still outnumber him." Shihael asks Contarch with the card ready.
"No, let's leave it at that. It's clear he's not an inexperienced player like he seemed. If we keep following him, it's more risk than reward." Contarch answers.
"But he has placed two "Trace" and one "Cling" on us, and we haven't been able to do anything against it despite being more than him. We can't let it go, or it will only be a loss for us." Romero argues.
"Even if we go after him, there's no guarantee he'll be alone. He could belong to a team or alliance like ours and be planning to ambush us." Contarch tries to explain.
"Besides, you've already seen how skillfully he moves. Even if we follow him, I'm not confident we'll get anything out of him."
"For now, Latiare and Kelek, return to the hideout to inform Nickes and the rest of the alliance about what happened, and bring back several defense cards along with a "Leave" card. We can't return until we shake off his trail, and I can't have him knowing what cards I have."
"We will stay here waiting in case he decides to come back."
Latiare and Kelek nod in agreement with the orders given to them, and use "Magnetic Force" to fly off to Kosofftro.
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Masadora.
Point of View Switch: Kai
"Only 9 cards in the restricted slots, and only one of them is A-rank: Toraemon. Well, that's what you'd expect from players who target newbies." I say while looking at Contarch card list that the binder provides me.
My first official challenge in the game has been actually quite fun. I've been able to use the spell cards well, I've gotten a feel for how a duel unfolds, and now I can even keep track of three players. What else can I ask in a 10 vs 1.
'Definitely a fun experience, but also educational. This time it went well, but there will be more encounters with players in the future, so now that I'm taking the game seriously, I'd better start preparing myself to know how to use the cards.' I say this as I begin to write down the names and effects of my spell cards and restricted spaces in the new notebook I just bought.
After noting down all the names and effects of the cards I have at hand, I use "Defensive Wall" again to protect myself, and then I use "Guidepost" to discover the whereabouts of several restricted cards.
- No. 46 Gold Dust Girl: Head to Bunzen, the town of gossip, and eavesdrops to the conversations of its inhabitants. Sooner or later, you will find the information you are looking for.
- No. 53 King White Stag Beetle: In a secluded corner east of Antokiba, on odd-numbered days, the local merchants' association organizes sales. If you ask around, you'll find your way to the No. 53 card.
- No. 82 Staff of Judgment: North of Gambling City Dorias, there will be someone who needs your help.
- No. 90 Memory Helmet: Go to the "Mind and Heart" library in Antokiba, ask for at least 5 different books and read for 1 hour.
"Hmm. So that's how Gon and his friends got them in the canon. Despite being A-rank cards, they seem easier to obtain than Wild Luck Alexandrite. I suppose it must be the hardest to get at that rank if Genthru couldn't manage to get it." I think aloud as I watch Masadora on the other side of the forest.
"Well, with the spell cards I've used and putting "Book of V.I.P Passes" and "Long Lost Delivery" in the restricted slots, I think I can make one more visit to the Spell Card Shop before heading back to Antokiba to find more cards."
"Even if I run into opposing players again, it won't be a problem with my cards, and I have to keep stocking up on cards above rank A if I want to win the game."
With his goals for the moment set, Kai returns to Masadora and withdraws another 100,000 jenny from his account to buy 10 new spell card packs after waiting in line for an hour.
- 5 List
- 3 Peek
- 2 Collision
- 3 Analysis
- 2 Contact
- 1 Purify
- 2 Blackout Curtain
- 3 Lottery
- 1 Levy
- 2 Drawbridge
- 2 Relegate
- 1 Origin
- 1 Leave
Many of these cards certainly look useful and interesting, but the one that catches my eye the most is, of course, "Leave."
This is the spell card every player wants, regardless of their level, and although I don't need it thanks to my Wormhole Orb, I immediately know what to use it for: to get restricted-slot cards.
So, waiting near the store, I watch with "Peek" the line of players going in and out looking glum until I find one, Jikono, who has at least 1 A-rank card.
"Hey!" I call him, making him turn in my direction. "You seem down. Let me guess... You want to leave the island and go back to real world. Right? We can reach an agreement."
With these simple words, the situation unfolds on its own and I successfully close my first deal in the game, acquiring the A-rank card "Miniature Dino" in addition to the other 12 spell cards that I have decided to keep.
- 3 Lottery
- 1 Levy
- 1 Origin
- 1 Purify
- 2 Drawbridge
- 2 Collision
- 2 Blackout Curtain
"Okay, it's time to prepare and free up more space in the binder."
My next move is the same as in my first purchase: use "Drawbridge" to protect myself from spells, "Blackout Curtain" to protect myself from "Peek" and "Fluoroscopy", and of course "Lottery" to try to win something good.
As expected, I'm out of luck this time too. The best I get is a D-rank card, and no, it's not "Paladin's Necklace." That's lotteries for you. A 1 in 25.000 chance is still better than the real lottery, so I don't let this discourage me and place my new A and B rank cards in the restricted slots (except "Holy Water").
Feeling pleased and renewed with the new variety of cards I have obtained so far in my first try, I set out to start filling the restricted slots with the information provided by "Guidepost".
I may have a long journey ahead and many challenges to overcome, but I am ready for whatever Greed Island has in store for me.
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I've tried to visualize and describe what the game Greed Island would be like if violence weren't used to coerce players. Playing it the way it's designed.
I wasn't entirely sure if two people could cast spells on the same person simultaneously because of what Bara and Sub did to Tsezguerra's team, since how would defensive spells apply then? I finally concluded that if that situation occurs, the defensive spell will protect the player from both of them.
I've also used a turn-based system: one person uses a spell, then the other uses another. This is a theme established in the manga, and it makes sense because otherwise, casting spells would be very difficult.
These and other things are what I've tried to cover. Let me know what you think.