"Now this is something new and interesting..." Ash’Kral commented in intrigue. "This is the first time I’ve seen this game... must be a new creation."
Levi nodded in agreement, finding the game’s mechanics to be quite unique... he was used to playing and watching games that gave utmost freedom to one’s use of their powers in the games. However, this was a restrictive psychological format.
Their entire fighting style meant nothing in this game unless someone used the Jack card and dueled straight out. But the norm? They had to respect the game’s rules and restrictions.
"Let me check the network real quick."
Levi swiftly opened another window and typed the name of the format and the game... unfortunately, he found nothing similar. The format did have some games under it, but none of them were like this.
In simpler terms...
"I am about to play a totally fresh death game... in a promotional setting where nine other monsters will be joining." Levi smiled wryly. "This game... is going to be popular."
Besides Levi’s popularity, he knew that the other nine Rifters would also have a massive following behind them... adding this to the fact the game’s design was fresh, many viewers would be interested to tune in.
"The Joker... hmmm, so each round the Rifters will be required to force their opponents to waste their Joker card and have it transfer over to them... this means, if they want to earn that Joker card, they have to come out swinging in their challenge. But..." Levi rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "If the challengers dared to waste their powerful special cards or high number cards right from the start, they will be left to slaughter in later rounds. But, if they didn’t and tried to be passive in their challenge, nothing ensures that their opponent won’t swing back in fear and pick his best cards to protect himself offensively... damn, this design is so complex and sinister."
Levi knew that was nothing but scratching the surface of the mind games him and those nine Rifters were going to go through... the idea of everyone given an equal number of cards, and the choice to pick two before each round made it impossible to guess 100% right what would await the challenger on the other side... vice versa.
The challenge would have no clue if the challenger was going to come for the kill or to survive for another round... This sense of unknown was the worst since if they decided to go turtle mode, and the challenger used weak cards, he would be screwed later on.
"There is also the option to skip a challenge... but it can be used only once." Levi pondered deeply. "Some might use it in the first rounds and some might save it for emergencies when they have no good cards..."
"Don’t forget the Joker... if it’s used and claimed by another, they will have two Joker cards... which means two weapons or more to shoot down any card." Ash’Kral added. "Sure, if it is used, the Joker card will transfer hands again, but it keeps one’s hope in the game."
"The thing is... the winning condition is the collection of Joker cards... it will be extremely difficult to use one, knowing that it will be transferred to the enemy, bringing them closer to victory." The Titan shook his head. "This one is pure mind games... that’s why the central free zone plaza was added. So, you can see each other’s condition and talk before another round starts... alliances and partnerships will be made, but they will be crafted out of thin glass... one weak blow, and it shatters."
"I know." Levi chuckled in derision. "Trusting another for a partnership means avoiding challenging each other or, challenging each other and sharing the chosen cards to rig the result in their ’favor’."
As much as this looked like an unfair advantage, Levi understood that such partnerships were nothing but a death trap... to trust another Rifter aiming for his head was absolutely suicidal, understanding that he could tell him the chosen cards, but no one truly knew what one would pick until the round started, and they were already in use.
"Difficult... too difficult." Ash’Kral warned. "Levi, I know you seek victory, but I want you to focus on survival in this game... whether you win at the end of the game or not, you need to survive... especially when you haven’t lucked out with a resignation token."
"I always play to win." Levi said calmly. "This game is complex and hard... but I am not easily scared... I have to win this to be promoted... I can’t afford to wait years or decades for another promotion game when my strength increases."
"This is it... this is my only window to become a noble, and now." Levi finished with a stern tone as he pressed the participating Rifters’ list.
"I like the enthusiasm... but, you aren’t going against nobodies, little one."
As Levi heard Ash’Kral’s solemn voice, his heart skipped a beat after seeing the details of the nine Rifters he was going against.
// Drayven : Wins: 2 | Defeats: 0 | Kills: 52 Most Highlighted Clip: Burning off the entire battlefield with one breath. (900 million views)
The Dreambreaker : Wins: 3 | Defeats: 0 | Kills: 37 Most Highlighted Clip: Making four Rifters believe they won before collapsing. (5 Billion views)
The Hollow Titan : Wins: 3 | Defeats: 0 | Kills: 78 Most Highlighted Clip: Ripping the arena floor open with his bare hands. (9 Billion views)
The Light Eater:
The Dealer : Wins: 3 | Defeats: 0 | Kills: 32 Most Highlighted Clip: He made all the Rifters fight each other for survival... last one lives. (39 Billion views)
Madam Future: Wins: 4 | Defeats: 0 | Kills: 26 Most Highlighted Clip: Forcing a Rifter to surrender without speaking a word. (1 Billion views)
The Ruiner : Wins: 2 | Defeats: 0 | Kills: 70 Most Highlighted Clip: Blowing the entire battlefield with one ability. (90 Billion views)
The Masked Butcher : Wins: 3 | Defeats: 0 | Kills: 97 Most Highlighted Clip: Slicing through twenty Rifters with one blade and no footsteps. (6 Billion views)
Wanderer of The Seas : Wins: 4 | Defeats: 0 | Kills: 65 Most Highlighted Clip: Putting all the Rifters inside an illusion and making them walk down a cliff to their demise. (14 Billion views)
The Three Body Problem: Wins: 2 | Defeats: 0 | Kills: 20 Most Highlighted Clip: Slaying a Leviathan Class Sandscale. (65 Billion views)//
"Well... this is going to be fun." Levi showed a forced smile as he read the Rifters’ details, noticing that each one was crazier and more powerful than the other.
Just their highlights alone were enough to cause dread to arise in anyone’s heart if there was just one in a single game... Levi was going against nine at once.
But...
"Don’t forget... they must be saying the same after they see your registered name." Ash’Kral smirked. "Slaying a Leviathan in your second game ever... It’s short, yet brutal. You’re as much of a force of nature as they are, if not more."
Ash’Kral was right... the moment those nine Rifters saw Levi’s nickname and written highlight, it didn’t matter if they were on different planets or dimensions... speak the same language or not... A Hollow, Trueborn, Falseborn, or a Nightcrawler.
The moment they pressed on the clip and saw Levi riding a monstrous Leviathan through a desert, before finally slaying it, the first thought that came to their minds was:
’The Celestial is in my game... how troublesome.’