Chapter 3: The Complete Deck
The Game Master further announced, "As you are here among them, I'll make things extra special this time. Instead of playing separate games, all of the cards will play the game together." After that, he snapped his fingers and we all teleported to another room—much bigger and with way more people.
In the last room, there were 13 other players, each representing a Clover. Saying all of the cards are combined, this means that the entire deck is here this time. If we do simple math, the numbers count up to 53 players including me.
Aren't there 54 cards in a deck? If I am the 1st Joker that came, that means there also should be a 2nd Joker in existence that hasn't come yet.
The Game Master announced that the first game will be a Maze Hunt. "You all will be put in separate teams. Each team will have 7 members, and there will be 7 teams in total. The remaining 4 will be placed in different parts of the maze. For them to win this game, they either need to kill someone, identify the leader of a team, or identify and destroy the card. They can use their abilities in any way."
"While for the teams—you all need to either protect your leader, pass through the maze, or stop the hunter from killing you. You as well can use your abilities in any way possible. You can also identify and destroy the hunters' cards, but that doesn't mean you win—it means you have taken down one of your threats. To win, you need to finish the maze. Also, the hunters will be given weapons as well to hunt you down."
"To destroy someone's card, you need to identify the card and challenge them in any way. If you win, their card is destroyed."
"You all will choose your leaders yourselves. Your team will be equal to every other team—e.g., if one team has too much strength, the other team will be equal to it. It might be in strength, it can also be speed, it can be anything—but each team will have equal chances of winning."
After that, upon his snap, we all were moved into a maze. All the teams were placed at different parts of the maze.
The Game Master now announced, "I forgot to mention before—the maze is home to some dangerous creatures that will kill you if you're not careful. This warning is also for the hunters. Let the games begin."
After that, the Game Master stopped talking.
Now we had to choose a leader for our team. Our team had 3 girls and 4 men. We all introduced ourselves.
One girl told us her name is Sana. The 2nd girl introduced herself as Sara. The 3rd as Jane. The 1st male introduced himself as Ali, 2nd as Sam, and the third as Kim. After that, they asked me what my name was, and I was thinking between my two names and deciding which to choose and tell.
After some thinking, I told them my name is Cid. And then came the moment of deciding our team leader—and we all were confused.
I came up with a plan. "It's obvious—our team might have the lowest strength, so the hunters will obviously think our team leader is a male. So they will try to identify from one of us. If they go after the kill, they will try to kill one of the girls. So here is what we're gonna do…"
After explaining my plan to my team and selecting the leader, we started progressing through the maze.
On the other side, other teams also chose their leader and started progressing through the maze, and the hunters started their hunt with their weapons.
Talking about the maze—every corner of the maze was filled with different threats. Darkness everywhere. Smog everywhere. Getting through this maze was impossible, and with a thought that someone is hunting us, it made it more dangerous.
On halfway through the maze, we saw another team and, at that moment, one of the hunters attacked us. I stayed behind to stop the hunter. I managed to create enough time for my team to escape, but him having a weapon made things difficult—and his abilities were rapidly switching. But none of those abilities were perfect. Still, his blade made it difficult for me to dodge in this maze.
After fighting for 20 minutes, he stabbed me in the heart—but little did he know, it was all part of my plan.
After that, he went after my team, as his plan was to kill as many players as possible so fewer threats remained for him to clear the next game.
After that, there was an announcement that the leader of Team 3 has died and all the players have lost the game.
While chaos was happening, I was on my deathbed. Soon after, the Jack reached my team—and at that moment, another problem appeared: a monster of the maze—the Glioth. They have 2 minds and 2 separate abilities. One to control the mind of others and another for attack—the ability to manifest fire.
My team was surrounded by them both. The Jack used his strongest ability to stop everyone from using their abilities for a short period of time—about 3 minutes.
At that moment, another announcement was made: Hunter 1 was killed by Team 7 members.
The Jack used his blade to slit the throat of Sana, and the Glioth used his claws to kill Ali. But at that moment, the Game Master announced Team 1 has finished the maze.
Looking at the team's number, the Jack was shocked. "How can it be? They're all gone!"
All of my team disappeared, and I came forward from behind the Glioth, breaking his neck.
"You used an illusion! How?! I ask how! I used my ability to stop all abilities around this area—so how did you use your ability?"
"Your ability allows you to stop new abilities from being activated. It doesn't stop the abilities that were already activated."
"Here is what happened. So the plan was that Sana would be the leader of our team. I have one ability that allows me to make anyone disappear, and another to create illusions. I used this ability on us so we could safely clear the maze. But I didn't tell them that the ability was already active since the moment we arrived here. And the person that was telling them the plan was also one of my illusions."
"As for the 'me' you stabbed—that was another fake I created."
"Now, for you—I challenge your card. The rule is simple: use your abilities to kill each other."
"I accept your challenge."
I smirked at him. Looking at me smiling, he grabbed his blade and stabbed me in the heart.
"I think you forgot that I have this weapon and you still challenged me."
I laughed. "And you forgot that you can't kill me in a challenge unless you recognize my card. And as you don't know the card, and I already knew what your card is—you lose, Jack of Diamonds."
Stunned, he looked at me. "How did you know?"
"Your multiple abilities but having no perfection told me you are the Jack, and your reckless behavior told me you are a Diamond."
"So this was all part of your plan from the beginning…"
"Yes, it was." The stab was instantly healed, and his heart stopped, and he died at that moment. And I finished the maze.
After that, the Game Master announced: "Congratulations on passing your first game. Today, 9 players were eliminated. The rest move forward. You are one step closer to freedom."
And again, he snapped his fingers, and we returned to our homes.
"We need to make sure that the Joker dies in the next game. You got it?"
It felt like 4 hours had passed in the maze—but in reality, only 1 hour had passed, meaning time works differently in the games, and it exists outside of this world.
After that, I slept.