47: The second only card

“You can obtain Unique Character Card [Jumping Guardian (1-Star)] x1.”

“You can obtain Hand Cards [Defense (LV1)] x2 [Isolation (LV1)] x1.”

“Do you want to spend 2000 cubic coins to reset this mission? (Yes/No)”

“Who is Tiao Tiao? There’s no such person in the Tomb Robber Gang.”

Shi Li had originally thought that the Unique Character Card he would obtain should be the leader of the Tomb Robber Gang, a decent Listen to the Wind Character Card.

“Wait a minute, could it be the BOSS?”

The next second, he realized.

It turned out he had always been controlling the villainous faction; no wonder the story ended with their complete annihilation.

Who would have thought that the true protagonist of this simulation mission was actually the final BOSS!

This instantly energized Shi Li, and his fatigue seemed to vanish.

He admitted that the leader’s card was quite good, but the BOSS was definitely stronger!

So Shi Li eagerly chose to complete the mission.

“Resonance with Steadfastness System”: 0% → 20%

The first thing that caught his eye was a notification.

“As expected, it’s related to the Unique Character Card.”

This way, his resonance progress was updated.

“Frenzy”: 40%; “Steadfastness”: 20%

This meant that, theoretically, he might be able to achieve seven-system resonance!

However, this progress bar indicated that there was still a long way to go.

It was better to focus on the present first.

“Jump!”

The appearance of this guy was actually quite different from the BOSS [Ancient Tomb King Guard].

He had a rather handsome face, with a yellow talisman pasted on his forehead.

His upper body was bare, and his lower body only had half of a tattered, ancient robe.

Coupled with his outstretched hands and blue-gray skin, it was easy to associate him with a zombie.

“Jumping Guardian”

Steadfastness, 30 points, 1-Star

Attack 30, 50/50+50/50, 0/30

“[Multi-Core - Characteristic]”: Jumping Guardian’s health is divided into 2 segments and is not affected by any external positive effects.

“[Unyielding - Passive]”: When Jumping Guardian’s health reaches 0, he gains 1 round of [Stasis].

([Stasis]: Delays departure)

“Amazing, another [Characteristic] card?”

Shi Li hadn’t expected that the BOSS’s most troublesome mechanism would be brought out.

Although a negative restriction, “does not accept external buffs,” was added, it was precisely because he had fought this BOSS before that he knew how troublesome this mechanism was!

The power of this segmented health lies in the fact that no matter how much damage is taken, at most only one health bar will be depleted within the current round.

This means that even the strongest damage dealer would need at least 2 rounds to defeat the Jumping Guardian.

Now, combined with this [Stasis], he would not depart for at least 3 rounds.

It's important to know that in simulation missions, some BOSSes can instantly kill people.

With the Jumping Guardian present, it meant he could always guarantee a damage-absorbing frontline for 3 rounds!

Crucially, during these 3 rounds, he wouldn't delay damage output, which was a very valuable point.

And in PVP card games, being able to remain for 3 rounds was also an extremely overpowered presence.

Especially when facing opponents with single-column decks, Shi Li felt that he could now easily dominate in ranks below Gold 5.

As long as he didn't encounter Fang Jinghai or other newly promoted Gold 5 opponents, he could at least secure a runner-up position.

“No, I have to try it immediately.”

With that, Shi Li opened the system’s built-in simulated card game.

The simulated card game is a function used to test card mechanisms and practice tactics.

Here, card players can build imaginary enemies as opponents.

He operated it in the simulated card game and found that the Jumping Guardian’s segmented health indeed worked as he imagined.

As for “not accepting external buffs,” this included common recovery effects and Shields.

In addition, he also constructed imaginary teammates to cast some effects not in his hand on the Jumping Guardian.

For example, [Resurrection]; even after departing, the Jumping Guardian does not accept [Resurrection].

For example, [Stasis]; [Stasis] cast by other cards is judged as “external” and also will not take effect on him.

However, there were exceptions.

For instance, the neutral [Exile]; although this effect mostly has a T2 priority, it can be considered both a buff and a debuff.

The Jumping Guardian also cannot be [Exiled].

Hand cards like [Defense], which are action-based, can be used normally.

However, with 50/50 health, it’s easily depleted, so [Defense] doesn’t have much meaning when facing concentrated fire.

Additionally, if the Jumping Guardian is designated as the ace, his health will become 100/100+100/100.

Although his health increases, considering he doesn’t accept external buffs and the opponent’s ace’s additional attack, there isn’t much benefit in him being the ace; the effect is similar to other cards being the ace.

“In that case, can I…?”

Holding the Jumping Guardian, Shi Li had an idea.

As the saying goes, a tall building starts from the ground; the Red Blade Maiden’s enhancement quest needed to be done step by step.

With this powerful Steadfastness card, he might be able to challenge a certain 2-star LV5 demon.

With this thought, Shi Li forced himself to go to bed quickly to rest.

Then, early the next morning, as soon as it was light, he arrived at the Monster Training Ground.

To be safe, he first used his C-Level Contract membership discount to purchase an item card at the lobby store.

“[Retreat]”: Use this card to immediately Retreat from card games involving 2-star and below demons.

The 2-star [Retreat], even with an 80% discount, cost him over 6000 cubic coins, making his heart ache.

He also checked, and the 3-star [Frenzy System Medium] was out of stock.

However, since he didn't have money to buy it anyway, there was no need to rush for now.

After completing his preparations, Shi Li walked into the arena.

And went straight to the deepest center.

During this time, any short-sighted demons he encountered were all eliminated, and some even offered material cards.

As his rank increased, Shi Li's physical fitness also improved.

Without spending too much time, he arrived at his destination.

The Man-Eating Flower still hung its bud low, standing quietly there, looking peaceful.

Because he had fought it before, the card player system automatically displayed its card face.

“Dry Domain Man-Eating Flower”

Frenzy, Attack 150, 800/800

“[Giant - Passive]”: Dry Domain Man-Eating Flower occupies 5 card slots, and its attack comes with a [Silence] effect.

“[Greed - Passive]”: If Dry Domain Man-Eating Flower participates in killing a target, it gains 100 [Healing] (T5).

([Silence]: Prevents the target from using active skills)

He heard that some Gold card players later tried to challenge it, but all ended in failure.

After all, for 5 card slots, a total of 150 attack power was within the normal range.

But this health was a bit unfair, as ordinary 5 demon cards should have health between 500 and 600.

The key was that this thing also had a second phase, 200 attack power, 1000 health.

If placed in a simulation mission, this level could at least qualify as a small BOSS.

“First, preset the deck.”

Shi Li was not in a hurry; no one was competing with him anyway.

He began to arrange his deck on the spot.

To challenge this big guy, he had to calculate every step carefully, without making any mistakes.

After all, one “refresh” cost 6000 cubic coins, which was too expensive.

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