"Surprised that I have cards of my own? I told you, I can satisfy all your desires, including playing cards."
The woman whose head protruded from the water said with a smile. She still used one hand to push that deck toward Shade, and Shade still could not see her shoulders.
"Would you like to come over and inspect them? I have no special cards."
"No, I don't think that's necessary. But I do have special cards."
Shade shook his head. Before winning the game, he would never voluntarily approach that pool.
"That's fine. Add your Myriad Aspects of Impermanence Cards. That will make things more interesting."
The woman chuckled softly. Shade gave her a surprised look, then reached into his pocket and added Origin · Balance and Founding Silver Moon to his deck. This way, his fifty-four-card deck now contained a full eight Special Rule Cards.
This woman actually knew about the Myriad Aspects of Impermanence Cards and even knew he had them on him. Her danger level was even higher than Shade had imagined.
Even now, the Outlander still did not know what he was facing. The only thing he could be certain of was that she was a relic, but he knew nothing of her danger level, characteristics, or even her most basic outward appearance.
There had been no records in the book snatched from the Fishmen. Shade could only vaguely guess that she was related to Desire. Wealth, power, flesh—this woman could stir the most primal desires and emotions in people's hearts. Fortunately, Shade's goal was clear. She could not satisfy his desire to become a god.
The woman asked,
"So, how would you like to play?"
Her fingertips lightly brushed across the top of the deck. Since only one hand extended from the pool, she