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“Really? That’s your response?” Alden shook his head, his weary expressionhim look far older than twenty-three He didn’t seehtest He did superior better than anyone I knew, fullover his forehead as his hazel eyes gleaathered in my stomach My cheap-yet-effective h to hold hiet ain and activated five scrolls, turning theers “Unblockable Quest”

It was a hundred-dollar card, the sort of comeback that pro players trotted out like jelly beans, and so far above old-plated But I had one final answer, my last card and ”

It would et me that one more turn

“Conrad” The irritated way Alden sighedis one of the cards that got outlaith the new rules It’s no longer tournaal Didn’t you freshen up your deck last week like everyone else?”

No, no I hadn’t updated a da because I’d needed my last forty dollars for food, not cards But I wasn’t telling Alden that, wouldn’t give hi ame, man”

“Yeah, good one” Alden barely glanced at ave a perfunctory shake

“That’s right You missed the release event last hen they unveiled the new cards and revised rules Hot date?” Payton asked, leaning forward, long hair swishing over their shoulders, the soft hint of southern in their liltdate sound old-fashioned and dirty at the same time

“You know it” I leaned back inextra hours at the pizza place, trying to replace thatirritable parents and hyped-up kids instead of being here atof a set I’d been looking forward to for months

Alden runtled noise “Can we film his death reaction now?”

“Sure thing” Professor Tuttle swung his handheld caood”

On cue, I sank low inunder the table as I etting hit with acid Eli that Professor Tuttle’s audience always loved, alame analysis Gas, with Professor Tuttle analyzing our in-person card play as well as aaulars on his channel Jasper did a lot of the editing for him, Payton did some special effects, and Alden…

Well, Alden did all the winning He had a co skill to make him darn near unbeatable