"Player number 6011. Please enter the hall on your right and choose a door."

As I was called by the female receptionist, I put away my earphones into my pocket and then went as told.

The hall I went into was small enough that only a single person can fit although the walls were clearly made out of special alloy and were cleanly polished, the lights on the ceiling were placed parallel to the walls, forming a single line on each side. The place gave off the feeling like a high-tech research facility, when it was really just another hobby shop. A really expensive one it seems.

I don't usually come here, in fact I never did, because I didn't like going to such places and I prefer ordering online if ever I want anything. The reason why I'm here today is because of this invitation I'm holding right now.

It looked like a fancy letter that you usually see nobles use. Not like I know anyone though. Apparently I was randomly chosen as a beta tester of an incoming game. It might've sound fishy at first if you didn't see the ads and announcements of this. Yes. This is official and it was even in a commercial that whoever receives this letter can participate in the beta.

I don't really participate in things like this or any event at all. I don't really like doing anything at all. Not hanging out, not playing games or watching TV, not anything. That is why I'm to at least change that and have a hobby.

"It's here huh?"

Reaching a T-junction, there were 6 doors of different colors lined up. From my left to right, the colors were: blue and black, red and black, black and white, green and white, yellow and white, one was grey with a sign saying 'Authorized Personnel Only'. I guess that's out of the choices.

"Please enter among the five doors. There would be an attendant waiting for you inside to brief you for more details.”

The female receptionist's voice resounded through the speaker. Then an electronic beep was heard.

That’s a vague way of giving the tutorials. Not like I care but people nowadays always want to do things in a unique way.

I then proceeded to the door of my selection. Since I don’t know what the colors supposed to mean, I just went with the second door from my left since I always prefer the number 2, which was the red-black door.

As I opened the door, a dim-lit room that only seemed to contain tall shelves aligned on the sides of the wall and a single table in the center of the room. On the shelves were cards that were displayed in glass cases for convenience. It looked just like a small warehouse in the inside.

[Following text shall be a draft manuscript or story board or whatever you call it, of the events going on this chapter. I will be expanding it like the text above after some time. Please consult me before doing any main editing.]

There was a girl in a red bunny suit in the room. Apparently, she is the “instructor” in-charge of elaborating what this beta is.

I asked her some questions about the game and here is the gist of what I learned:

1. There are 5 “factions” of cards. Those factions are the Knight’s Order(blue-black), Demon’s Blood(red-black), Tech Unit(green-white), Spell Division(yellow-white), and Dark Light(white-black) each with their specializations. The Demon’s Blood faction can deal high damage with lot’s of self support skills. The specializations of other factions were not revealed in the moment however it is possible to mix in other factions into a deck.But I can only pick cards from the current room available during this beta.
2. There are 5 types of cards in this game.The self explanatory ones would be the character card, spell card, and equipment card. The upgrade card or “Specialized skill” card can only be used when certain requirements involving a specific character card are met. The support monster or “Pet” card can only be used if there is a designated character card in the field, it is invulnerable and grants support abilities. It disappears when the designated character card dies. There are some cards with exceptions.
3. Since this is a realistic card battle game, the player also participates in live battle. It is game over when the player loses 1000 hp.
4. This game is not turn based and is a real-time card strategy game. Battle occurs in real-time and for balance issues, there are cooldowns set before you can use another card.
5. In this beta, you can pick any card available in the room and build up your deck of 50 cards limit. The instructor is here so that you don’t use other cards or exceed the card limit and answer possible questions. However, there is a time limit of 30 minutes within the room.

That was all I got.

The bunny girl instructor seemed amused and for some reason gave me a card.

It was “Berserker Princess - Aya”

It looked like a special card but since I don’t know anything about the game, I just added it to my deck.

I’m not stupid that I don’t know how to play strategy card games. I just don’t know this one but I know the basics.

Time’s up.

I was escorted to the door behind the room.

There I met other players and learned some more. There were some people dueling but I focused on gathering information

After some time, everyone joining the beta seemed to be done with the card selection room.

Afterwards, the bunny girl instructor from earlier and some other people in weird costumes appeared in front of us on a stage. They seemed to be the instructors for the other rooms.

Then, they made an announcement which shocked everyone.

A live battle seemed to have started. They said it was a free-for-all battle royale and everyone started fighting each other.

With the real-time battle feature, the place looked like a battlefield. I was thrilled but I decided to lay low since from what I can see, a lot of these guys are pros and know what they’re doing. Even the instructors are joining in the fray.

It was like a one-sided massacre against the weirdly dressed instructors.

Not even 10 minutes passed and everyone was annihilated by the instructors. Except for the ones that kept on running away, which I’m one of them. I’m not a coward. I know I’m weak and I’m doing a tactical retreat. Facing all of them at once is just suicide.

I was chased by that bunny girl instructor and after all other players were out, the other instructors left the match. With the exception of me and the bunny girl.

Now that it’s a one-on-one match, I might have a chance. Then, I decided to face her.

“Ara, you finally found your balls kiddo?”

“I think so. Not having the others here, I can finally feel relieved.”

“Hoh. So you think you can beat me kiddo? That’s some confidence you got there.”

“Not really. After seeing you guys annihilate the others earlier, it would be bad to underestimate you.”

“Hoh. I feel flattered about that. Then enjoy this battle as much as you can since you are joining the rest.”

“Don’t worry. After I’m done with you, I’m joining the others outside. Summon! Red Armor Knight - Eska!”

Raising a card, a bright red light immersed from it and a Red Armored Knight came out holding a long red spear.

“I’m not surprised kid. I’ve seen all your cards during the selection. Nothing you do would surprise me! Go, Behemoth”

The monster following the bunny girl earlier charged in. The power difference was just too big that my Eska wasn’t able to dodge and got destroyed in one hit.

She was also using a red-black deck so she would be mostly be using brute force to overwhelm me.

But…

“Activate! Burst Flame!”

Holding out a card, dark red flames came bursting out and exploded when it came to contact the bunny girl’s monster.

“That’s not enough kid! Equip! Crimson Blood Claw!”

The monster fell down from the previous attack but it wasn’t destroyed yet and blocked my right side. Using the fact that I just used a spell and summoned, I can’t use another card because of the cooldown, so she dashed towards my left which was my only path to dodge. Heading back would just extend the distance and still end up hit. Ducking would be easy to hit and I don’t have much reflexes. Heading forward is just suicide.

The only remaining option would be to use an Equip and fight back.

Or so it would seem…

Just as she halved the distance between us, a bright red magic circle appeared underneath her in an instant and streaks of red light struck her from all directions.

“Gyaaa!!! This is… Witches’ Retribution spell! But… how?!”

She was still continued to be struck by red light when she tried to talk.

“It’s thanks to the real-time battle feature. What I did was simple. I set up a spell right there right before we fought. I wasn’t just hiding around earlier you know. I was setting up traps and making plans for a fight.”

“Even still… You can’t have activated this now… I don’t remember you having any trigger or delay spells!”

“I don’t have to. When activated, Witches’ Retribution would deal damage equal to the attack power the character card or player has. You didn’t have an Equip earlier so your attack power was 0, and the spell doesn’t count that.”

“So…!”

“I already activated Witches’ Retribution earlier on you. I was only waiting for a moment you would use Equip and I will then make my move.”

“You got me there… Well, interrogation is over!”

With a sudden shock wave, the red light that struck her dispersed.

“Too bad for you. You only dealt 100 damage to me. Perhaps I should give you some credit for damaging me but your luck ends here kid.”

“It’s okay. At least my cooldown is over already.”

“That won’t be enough kid. Same goes for me. Summon! Blood Hunter - Denyal!”

With a bright red light, a man that was wearing blood-stained leather appeared in front of me. Not only that, the giant monster from earlier recovered and is now standing on my right.

“You got nowhere to run kid.”

“I don’t any plans to run.”

Still this is some pinch I’m in in.