Chapter 85: Could This Be a Meeting Place?
After completing the tutorial, Mike and his friends officially entered the game.
On the main screen, they saw several players chatting in the room. They were clearly exhibition players. The five computers used for testing were installed in a private room by default. They were not side-by-side, so it was impossible to see each other's screens and know their identities.
With the exception of the Lord, whose identity was visible, everyone else was hidden.
Mike's character was Lord, and as for the general, he immediately chose the Benevolent King. This was partly due to the sense of immersion, as the Benevolent King was the ruler of his faction.
Also to his familiarity with this general, as he had used him in the tutorial. It was simple: he dealt cards to others and healed them.
As for the others, Sarah, playing as a rebel, chose Zhao.
Tom, playing as a loyal minister, chose the Strategist.
Ethan, playing as a traitor, chose Lady Sun.
Chloe, another girl, chose Lady Zhen.
Several carefully studied the descriptions of the generals' abilities. After all, they had just finished the tutorial and only had a basic understanding of the game, not yet knowing their own generals' abilities.
After everyone's selection, the game officially began.
Mike, the Lord, took the first turn and checked his hand. He equipped himself with a War Spear and a Defensive Horse, and then played a Southern Invasion card, which instantly took one drop of health from Lady Sun. The others all had "Kills," so they didn't lose health.
Since it was still early in the game and it was difficult to distinguish who was a rebel, loyal, or traitor, Mike opted for a safe strategy: stay put. When the game ended, it was Sarah's turn. Without thinking twice, she equipped herself with a Battle Axe. Although she didn't draw a "Kill," she did have three "Recognition" cards.
She immediately used Zhao's ability, using "Flash" as an attack against Mike.
"Advancing and retreating is a true weapon!" Zhao's voice resonated as an attack effect appeared on the screen.
"Flash!" Mike calmly flashed.
Sarah flashed twice, using her Battle Axe to forcibly reduce one drop of Mike's health.
"Zhao, Zhao! I didn't expect you to be the traitor!" Mike sighed, captivated by her dramatics, as he watched Sarah's sudden rebellion. Despite losing one drop of health, he remained unfazed. After all, his Benevolent King could heal.
'Wait, he'll find out who the loyal ministers are and deal two cards immediately. How generous!'
"Tsk! Let's see how I deal with this incompetent lord of yours!" Sarah pursed her lips and ended her turn.
After Sarah's turn, Chloe, the next player, followed clockwise. As a traitor, she activated her ability first.
"As if a light cloud obscured the moon, floating like snow in a gust of wind."
Three consecutive successful checks resulted in a lucky draw, obtaining the Repeating Crossbow and an "Unforgettable Luck" card. The third card, a diamond flash, was not checked.
After briefly reviewing her cards' effects, Chloe immediately turned against Mike. She played a "Tactical Delay" card.
Then, Chloe felt uncomfortable.
"Why can't I attack Mike?" Chloe held up her "Assassin" card, only to find that she could only attack Zhao and Lady Sun, who were nearby.
Hearing Chloe's words, Ethan complained: "Didn't the beginner's tutorial explain the game rules? You need an attack horse or a weapon with an attack range greater than 1 to attack in all positions. Your Repeating Crossbow doesn't have enough range!"
"Study the beginner's tutorial carefully. Look how embarrassed you are now, right? Your identity has been exposed and you can't do anything."
But as soon as he finished speaking, Lady Zhen, in the game, drew her sword and attacked Lady Sun.
"How talkative you are!"
She couldn't attack her lord, and her traitor identity was instantly exposed. Publicly, whether this Lady Sun was loyal or traitorous, she was definitely not one of them, so she should kill her. Anyway, she could only kill her. Personally, it was your fault for talking too much!
"No, you're taking revenge!" Ethan's eyes widened.
'What had he done wrong? And more importantly, he hadn't even shone.'
A card he had created out of nowhere, a card he had stolen, and two horses attacking. From one perspective, it was a perfect start. But from another, it was a hellish start.
As he watched in despair, the second "Kill" fell on his head. Combined with the health he had lost in the first round of the Southern Invasion, he was the first to be eliminated.
"Oh my God, this general is too fierce! He's been judging until the black card is invincible!" Mike's eyes widened.
Luckily, someone blocked his attack, considering he only had one flash in his hand.
In comparison, he felt that the Benevolent King was a complete loser! 'What's the point of dealing cards? Isn't it just for them to have fun?'
It's like going to a foot massage parlor to exercise. The Benevolent King's role was: "Have fun, brothers, tonight's on me!" But don't just invite, have fun too!
"Why are they targeting me?"
Ethan was speechless as he heard his character's pitiful cry in the game: "No... I still can't die..."
'His first game of Three Kingdoms Tactics had been canceled just like that? The key is that he didn't even play a single card!'
"I remind you that it's not us who are attacking you, it's just Chloe who is attacking you!" Sarah chuckled.
"Tsk tsk, miserable! Luckily, I'm your next customer." Tom also seemed relieved.
The five people on the field... no, it should be said that four were having a great time. Even those watching on the big screen, without having played in person, enjoyed the scene. It was a real shame.
But many players had a general understanding of the game. They knew that, in addition to strategy, luck was also crucial. They could even use the legendary "Divine Victory" trick.
For example, Lady Zhen had the Repeating Crossbow in her hand and was able to kill the lord, and then received several black "Kills." Wouldn't that mean the lord would disappear in a single turn? It required both ingenuity and luck.
Many experienced players immediately analyzed the unique characteristics of Three Kingdoms Tactics. As for the more casual players, they didn't pay too much attention to it. It just seemed exciting and not too complicated.
The game continued, but the situation had reached a stalemate. Mike and Tom, the Strategist and the Benevolent King, perfectly fit their roles as ruler and minister: lord and prime minister. But it had to be said that their abilities didn't quite complement each other, and their positions were quite awkward.
"Mike! I don't know exactly how the Strategist died in history, but one thing I do know: you completely ruined my Strategist!"
Looking at the two cards in his hand, a "Borrowed Knife" and a "Kill," he felt like cursing. He had just emptied his hand in the previous turn, and in the next he had two more. And if you're going to play, at least use a "Flash"! His "Empty Fort" ability hasn't even triggered once!
Luckily, he had used his "Star Gazing" ability before to get a "Cross the River," "Demolish the Bridge," and eliminate Lady Zhen's Repeating Crossbow. Otherwise, he would have died a thousand times.
"I can't help it, my health is a little in danger. Be patient." Looking at the three drops of health he had just recovered, Mike coughed softly twice. 'What else could he do? He was desperate.'
Compared to the two traitors, Zhao and Lady Zhen, their abilities were quite good on their own. But, combined with the order, they were simply incompetent!
"Stop your desperate struggle!"
"That's right, just admit defeat."
Sarah and Chloe were armed to the teeth: weapons, armor, attack, defense, and horses. The only problem was that their health was somewhat low, with only two drops.
"Huh? Admit defeat? No way! It's time to come back!"
Tom's eyes lit up as he looked at the cards he had drawn. "My lord, don't be scared! I have a plan!" Tom shouted, completely absorbed in his role.
Then, the Strategist, the one in the game, recited his lines.
"Lightning!"
A lightning bolt flashed and a lightning bolt icon appeared over the Strategist's head.
"Great plan! Prime Minister, this is a truly brilliant plan! Combined with your cunning, we will leave the rebels no escape!"
Upon seeing the lightning bolt icon appear over Tom's head, Mike instantly understood. Although it was only the first round, after the initial inexperience, practically everyone had understood the game's rules.
'Invincible!'
"Ah! No breaking bridges or stealing!"
"Me neither!"
It was Sarah's and Chloe's turn, and neither did anything. Both tried to kill the Strategist, but the other had a "Peach" and saved him.
"Calm down, Chloe, we still have hope. If we're lucky and he doesn't hit us, we can kill him instantly on our turn," Sarah said.
"Hmph, don't dream! It's time to turn things around! My Prime Minister is powerful..." Mike seemed satisfied.
But before he could finish, he heard the Strategist recite a line in the game.
"Out of nowhere!"
'??????'
"No, Tom, what are you doing?" Mike's eyes widened.
Tom, who had just reacted, was also a little embarrassed. At first, he did remember to observe the lightning card. But then came the key point. He saw a card called "Out of Nowhere" mixed with the other four, so he moved it to the second position.
When this trick came out of nowhere, he instinctively couldn't resist. 'You know, drawing two cards... how tempting! Anyone could resist!'
And then he saw that the fourth card, the next judgment card, was actually another "Mystic Formation."
'Exclusive!'
"It's okay, there shouldn't be a problem. The Benevolent King is blessed..." But he stopped mid-sentence.
A judgment card appeared in the center of the game. The 7 of Spades was a win. And the lightning judgment was between the 2 of Spades and the 9 of Spades, so the lightning judgment took effect.
Suddenly, a dark cloud loomed over the Benevolent King in the game, followed by thunder and lightning that struck him directly.
"Could this be a meeting place..."
Mike remained expressionless as he listened to his character's last words in the game. Ethan, who had been eliminated at the beginning, suppressed a laugh.
Tom was bewildered.
Sarah and Chloe celebrated by high-fiving.
"Prime Minister, please explain," Mike looked at Tom with narrowed eyes.
"Ahem, let's play Fall Guys! It seems Alex wasn't lying this time. This game is hilarious!"
Faced with the awkward situation, Tom, noticing the commotion in Fall Guys, immediately changed the subject.
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