Human-Demon Summoning

The firewood crackled in the fireplace, warming the college lounge. Outside the window, the night in the Northern Frontier was still, with only the occasional sound of the wind whistling past the eaves.

Lowell sat cross-legged on the thick carpet, leaning against the cushions, a card between his fingers, tapping his knee lightly and absently.

Opposite him, Ruby sat cross-legged, her fiery red curls shimmering like a dancing flame in the firelight, her emerald eyes fixed on her hand of cards, her small face taut and serious.

Himmel sat casually to Ruby's side, her blue hair falling softly, her gaze gently fixed on the battle. Occasionally, she would glance up and meet the eyes of Frieren opposite her, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

Frieren was curled up in the armchair next to Lowell, her chin resting on her knees, her emerald eyes half-closed as if she were about to fall asleep, with only the occasional glance at the card game showing her alert attention.

They are fighting "Human-Demon Summoning".

"Hmph~" Lowell lazily tossed the dice, then played a card depicting a phantom mage wreathed in flames. "Consuming six fire element dice, summon 'Blazing Flame Mage'. Activate the skill 'Rapid-Fire Fireballs' —dealing six points of fire damage to each of your 'Apprentice Mage Ruby,' 'Elven Archer,' and 'Seven Luminaries Mage Ruby' on the field."

Ruby's Sorcerer card and Archer card on the Ruby a soft "Ouch!" and wrinkled her little nose in distress, but then straightened her back.

"So what! Ruby the field— 'Seven Luminaries Mage Ruby' —requires seven different dice to summon! She possesses 'Elemental Affinity,' granting immunity to half of elemental damage! Furthermore, this turn her 'Magic Shield' completely negates one Ordinary Attack from a magician unit each turn! Therefore, your fire mage cannot destroy her! Next turn, once Ruby gathers all the dice, it will be your doom!"

Upon hearing this, Lowell deliberately curled the corners of his mouth upwards, revealing a slightly mocking smile, "Oh? So~re~wa~do~ka~na~?"

He slowly drew another card from his hand and deftly placed it on the field. "Consuming three random dice, activate the spell card 'Shadow Warriors' Ambush'! Target effect: Eliminate one enemy spellcaster unit with 5 or less health on the field. Your 'Seven Luminaries Mage Ruby' currently has exactly 5 health. End turn."

Ruby's eyes widened instantly as she watched her imposing "Great Mage" card on the field be enveloped by a shadow before turning into specks of light and disappearing.

"W-What!? Damn it... How could this be..." She scratched her head in frustration, threw the dice, glanced at them, then quickly scanned her hand, finally playing a card in despair, "Use the spell 'Mercury Pudding'! Restore five health points!"

The usually quiet Frieren stirred slightly, as if she were feeling a bit hot from the fire. She stretched out her slender fingers and picked up three fire-attribute, three lightning-attribute, and two neutral-attribute dice from the several elemental dice floating in front of her, her voice carrying a slightly languid nasal tone:

"Hmm... Consume three Fire, three Thunder, and two random dice, for a total of eight, to summon 'Great Mage Frieren'. Activate her skill 'Millennial Accumulation - Hidden Magic' - the effect is that until the start of our next turn, all units on our field gain the 'Concealment' status and will not be targeted by the opponent's attacks and effects."

A soft yet resilient magical aura enveloped the remaining units on Lowell's field. Ruby's units on the field instantly lost their target indicators.

"Damn it... now I can't even attack..." Ruby's face fell, and she looked at Himmel beside her for help, "Himmel! Think of something!"

Himmel watched quietly, an encouraging smile on his face. He gently patted Ruby's shoulder and calmly drew a card from his hand. As soon as the card was drawn, it seemed to glow, depicting a blue-haired warrior standing with a sword, whose image bore a striking resemblance to Himmel himself.

"Don't panic, Ruby." Himmel's voice was clear and steady, carrying a reassuring power. "Watch me. I'll consume one random die to summon 'Hero Himmel)' to the field."

He placed the card at the front of the field and continued, "Next, since 'Hero Himmel)' is on the field, I can activate the spell card 'Hero Party Assembles - Its Name is Hope'! By using this card's effect, I Special Summon 'Priest Heiter' and 'Warrior Eisen' from my Deck to the field!"

With flashes of light, cards representing Heiter and Eisen appeared on either side of "Hero Himmel," forming a solid formation.

"It's not over yet!" Himmel's gaze swept across Lowell and Frieren's fields, finally settling on the card representing Eisen.

"Now, roll any six dice to activate Eisen's skill— 'Absolute Defense'! This effect lasts for two rounds. During this time, as long as Eisen is alive, all attacks and spells from the opponent must target Eisen first. Furthermore, Eisen will not die and will recover the amount of damage taken the next two times."

"Furthermore, Heiter's effect can restore an injured ally's health equal to half of the damage they have taken once per turn! If the effect is successful, it will also restore the same amount of health to the user!"

Ruby's health points are not high, but this defensive formation seems impregnable.

After doing all this, Himmel smiled slightly at Ruby, her blue eyes gleaming with the confident light of a successful tactic. "How about that? That should get us through this round. Now, it's time to look for an opportunity to counterattack."

Ruby watched the situation on the field turn around in an instant, her fighting spirit rekindled in her blue eyes, and she nodded vigorously. "Yes! Himmel is the most reliable!"

Lowell watched Himmel's fluid movements, raised an eyebrow, and whispered to the seemingly drowsy Frieren beside him, "Tsk, as expected of a hero, this little combo is really troublesome."

Frieren gave a very soft "Mmm," burying her head in her knees, her voice almost blending into the crackling of the fire. "... It's alright, you're here."

Lowell smiled upon hearing this, then turned his gaze back to the game, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the edge of the next card in his hand.