Villain Simulator, GenshinImpact

Lucas was visibly surprised. "How is it you?"

Indeed, the black-haired beauty standing before Lucas and Shenhe was none other than the guest consultant of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Zhongli, whom Lucas had met briefly the day before.

"What's this?" Shenhe asked, puzzled. "You two know each other?"

"As for me, I don't think introductions are needed," Lucas gestured toward Shenhe and said, "This is Shenhe, Ganyu's junior apprentice."

"You must be the disciple of Cloud Retainer," Zhongli nodded slightly, her gaze carrying a hint of admiration. "Your aura is brimming yet restrained—clearly, she has trained you well."

Normally, Shenhe would scoff at such comments, but for some reason, she felt a natural fondness toward this woman she had never met before. She nodded and said softly, "Th-thank you for the compliment."

"Why are you so polite today?" Lucas asked in surprise. "Did you eat something unusual this morning? That's impossible; I made breakfast myself."

"You're the one who ate something strange!" Shenhe glared at him. "Is it so odd for me to be polite?"

Lucas thought for a moment and concluded it must be Zhongli's natural commanding presence. Even though Shenhe didn't know her true identity, she instinctively respected her.

"Well then, let's get started," Zhongli said, placing a briefcase on the table and opening it. "Over the next three days, I'll turn you from beginners into true masters of Genius Invokation TCG."

When Lucas and Shenhe saw the contents of the briefcase, their eyes widened in disbelief.

Inside was an impressive collection of card decks and an assortment of intricately crafted eight-sided dice. The dice came in various materials—bone, wood, and jade—all appearing quite luxurious.

It was reminiscent of the first episode of Yu-Gi-Oh! when Seto Kaiba carried a briefcase full of cards to challenge Yugi's grandfather for the Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

"This… this is way too much," Shenhe frowned slightly. "Didn't that woman say forty cards were enough?"

"One of the joys of Genius Invokation TCG lies in the combinations of different cards," Zhongli explained. "There are virtually no identical decks in this world. For skilled players, it's normal to have dozens of decks prepared for adjustments."

"But I didn't expect…" Lucas glanced at Zhongli curiously. "You're actually good at this game?"

After all, a 6,000-year-old Geo Archon's hobbies should lean more toward bird-watching, opera, chess, or traditional music. The thought of her playing Genius Invokation TCG was akin to visiting your grandparents and having them pull out their phones to ask you to join their team in Mobile Legends. It was a bit surreal.

"More accurately, I enjoy trying anything that can pass the time," Zhongli said, examining the cards in her hand. "Sometimes, having too much time isn't a blessing. Genius Invokation TCG is a rare gem of a game, but what's even rarer is finding someone to play it with."

As she spoke, a hint of melancholy flashed in her eyes.

"To buy osmanthus wine and share it with old friends—such days will never return, no matter how far you wander."

The Geo Archon's old companions were now few and far between. Her long life, rather than being a gift, might have been a torment.

"I wouldn't mind having more time," Lucas grinned. "Miss Zhongli, please teach us quickly so that I can play with you in the future."

Zhongli blinked, her eyes softening as a faint smile formed. "If that's the case, this lesson will prove most rewarding for me."

"Don't be fooled by his act," Shenhe interjected, pouring cold water on the moment. "That innocent look of his has already deceived countless girls."

"No matter," Zhongli replied nonchalantly. "If he can deceive me, that too is a skill."

What magnanimity!

The Geo Archon certainly lived up to her stature.

Zhongli then began explaining the basic rules of Genius Invokation TCG to Lucas and Shenhe.

As Ningguang had mentioned the day before, the rules were not overly complex. As Lucas listened, he found the game quite similar to the card game Yu-Gi-Oh! from his own world.

Cards are divided into two main categories: Combat Cards, used for battle, and Function Cards, which include Effect Cards, Counter Cards, Equipment Cards, and Element Cards.

Each Combat Card has two key attributes: "Level" and "Element." To summon a Combat Card, players must use dice matching the card's level and element. Cards can be summoned directly from the deck.

At the start of each turn, players roll eight Elemental Dice. The dice have eight faces: Hydro, Cryo, Pyro, Electro, Anemo, Geo, Dendro, and Universal. The Universal face can substitute for any element.

Combat Cards below Level 4 can only be summoned using Elemental Dice. Cards of Level 4 or higher can be summoned using dice or by sacrificing other Combat Cards. Level 5 and 6 cards require the sacrifice of one Combat Card, while Level 7 and 8 cards require two sacrifices.

Each player starts with 4,000 Life Points. A player loses when their Life Points reach zero. Combat Cards can damage an opponent's Life Points by destroying their cards or through direct attacks.

At the start of the game, each player draws five cards. At the beginning of each turn, they draw one more. The turn order is determined by a dice roll. The first player cannot attack during their initial turn.

These were the basic rules.

In essence, the game resembled the first-generation Yu-Gi-Oh! but introduced the new concept of summoning cards using Elemental Dice.

With bad luck, a player might not even be able to summon low-level cards. Conversely, with good luck, they could summon a Level 8 Combat Card on the very first turn.

"The rules are simple," Zhongli explained. "Rather than teaching more theory, it's better to practice. Use the cards I've brought to build your decks based on your instincts, then play a game of Genius Invokation TCG so I can assess your skills."

It took Lucas about half an hour to assemble what he thought was a reasonable deck. Shenhe, however, completed hers in less than five minutes!

"Hey... isn't it a bit too fast for you to finish building your deck?" Lucas asked, puzzled. "Don't tell me you just threw it together randomly?"

"Hmph, don't underestimate me," Shenhe shot Lucas a glare. "My deck is as strong as I am."

"Alright, let me take a look at your decks first," Zhongli interjected.

She took the decks Lucas and Shenhe had just assembled.

Starting with Lucas's deck, Zhongli reviewed the cards one by one, nodding as she did so. "Hmm, the balance between Combat Cards and Function Cards is excellent. Some of these cards also have good synergy. For a beginner, this is already quite impressive."

Lucas couldn't help but feel a bit smug. After all, he had experience with card games like Yu-Gi-Oh! in the real world and had read related manga. While he wasn't an expert, putting together a functional deck wasn't a challenge for him.

"Check mine out," Shenhe said as she shoved her deck into Zhongli's hands. "My deck is definitely better than his!"

Zhongli nodded, but as she examined Shenhe's deck, her brows furrowed slightly.

"Well? How is it?" Shenhe, unusually eager, leaned in.

Clearly, despite holding Cloud Retainer's Guide to Interpersonal Skills as gospel, Shenhe had learned absolutely nothing about reading the room.

Zhongli's expression practically screamed "it's complicated."

"It's... an interesting deck," Zhongli replied diplomatically. "However, it may run into issues in practical use—it might get stuck."

"Stuck?" Shenhe asked, confused. "What does that mean?"

"It means your cards get stuck in your hand, unable to be played," Lucas explained, immediately guessing the issue. "You didn't fill your deck with nothing but high-level Combat Cards, did you?"

Unlike the Yu-Gi-Oh! rules in the real world, Genius Invokation TCG required elemental dice to summon Combat Cards. Since the dice rolls were largely luck-based, even summoning a Level 4 Combat Card wasn't easy, let alone something higher.

"Not a bunch," Shenhe corrected, shaking her head. "All of them! Isn't the point of the game to smash the opponent with powerful Combat Cards?"

Valid. Logical. Straight to the point.

But utterly impractical.

"Forget it; explaining won't help," Lucas sighed. "Just duel me, and you'll see for yourself."

"Exactly what I wanted!" Shenhe declared confidently. "I'll defeat you completely!"

The duel begins!

First and second turns were decided by dice rolls. Each player rolled eight dice, and the one with more identical faces could choose whether to go first or second.

Lucas's roll: Geo: 3, Hydro: 3, Pyro: 1, Universal: 1.

Not bad.

Shenhe's roll: Cryo: 5, Anemo: 2, Universal: 1.

Well, this was…

Ridiculously good luck.

"I'll go first!" Shenhe, true to her nature, immediately chose to take the first turn.

Her dice results: Cryo: 5, Hydro: 1, Pyro: 1, Universal: 1.

"I'll use five Cryo dice and one Universal die to summon…" Shenhe drew a Combat Card from her deck and placed it on the table. "Cryo Armored Chieftain!"

[Cryo Armored Chieftain]

Element: Cryo | Level: 6 | ATK: 2500 | DEF: 2400

Skill: Enrage—ATK increases by 1000; DEF decreases by 1000.

The Combat Card displayed a vivid, lifelike 3D image of the Cryo Armored Chieftain, standing tall on the table.

In this fantasy world, they didn't even need fancy dueling devices like in Yu-Gi-Oh! The magic-infused cards naturally projected realistic holograms. Because of their magical properties, counterfeits were nearly impossible—fake cards couldn't generate the holographic effect.

"Activate skill! Enrage!" Shenhe commanded coldly. "ATK increases to 3500. I'll launch a direct attack!"

However, even after Shenhe issued the order, the Cryo Armored Chieftain simply stood there, unmoving.

"Strange…" Shenhe frowned. "Why isn't it following my command? When there are no Combat Cards on the field, shouldn't it attack directly?"

"Because as the first player, you can't attack on your opening turn," Lucas explained helplessly. "Were you even paying attention to the rules earlier?"

"Why is there such a tedious rule?" Shenhe complained, clearly annoyed. "What a hassle."

"Without it, the first player would have an overwhelming advantage with no chance for the opponent to defend," Lucas said, already expecting this reaction. "Do you want to continue?"

"No need," Shenhe crossed her arms. "I'm out of dice to summon anything else. But it doesn't matter; you'll still lose next turn."

"My turn! Dice roll!"

With the revised rules, the typical dueling catchphrase had shifted from "Draw!" to "Roll dice!"

Lucas's roll: Hydro: 1, Pyro: 1, Cryo: 1, Electro: 1, Anemo: 1, Geo: 1, Dendro: 1, Universal: 1.

Looking at the result, Lucas's expression turned awkward. "My luck is unbelievably bad…"

Statistically, rolling this result was already unlucky. For gameplay, it left him with no choice but to summon low-level Combat Cards.

"Interesting…" Zhongli stroked her chin thoughtfully. "If I recall correctly, Shenhe, you possess the "solitary star" and "disastrous evil" fate, do you not?"

"That's correct," Shenhe narrowed her eyes slightly. "Why bring it up now?"

"The Solitary Star Fate brings misfortune to those around you," Zhongli explained. "Though the red cord you wear suppresses it, it still subtly affects the luck of those nearby. Hence, Lucas's poor dice roll."

"That's the reason?" Lucas said, dumbfounded. "Wait, does that mean anyone dueling Shenhe in Genius Invokation TCG will have terrible luck?"

In a game like Genius Invokation TCG, heavily reliant on randomness, if others' luck worsened, Shenhe's relative luck would improve.

With that in mind, wasn't Shenhe, this naïve beginner, effectively blessed with the strongest passive buff in the game—"Fortunate Misfortune"?

What kind of Joey Wheeler nonsense was this?

"Though I don't fully understand what you're saying," Shenhe pondered, "it seems like a good thing for me, right?"

"Exactly," Lucas nodded, sighing. "An enviable ability indeed."

"But looking at your dice roll..." Shenhe smirked. "At most, you can summon a Level 2 Combat Card. Looks like your defeat is inevitable."

To her surprise, Lucas showed no sign of panic. Instead, he smiled faintly. "I've anticipated this situation. The game has only just begun."

"First, I activate the Effect Card 'This Doesn't Count This Time'," Lucas said, drawing a card from his hand. "Its effect allows me to reroll any number of dice."

The card's illustration depicted Venti holding a dice cup, wearing a pleading expression that was both pitiful and adorable.

Lucas picked up four of his dice and rolled again, resulting in: Pyro: 1, Hydro: 1, Anemo: 1, Electro: 1.

Sure enough, with his luck being affected, it was nearly impossible to roll matching dice.

"Even so, you can still only summon a Level 3 Combat Card at most," Shenhe said with a sneer. "That's far from enough."

"I'm not done yet," Lucas countered. "I activate the Effect Card 'Element Conversion' to change one Hydro die into a Pyro die."

[Element Conversion]

Effect Card

Effect: Change the result of one die to a specified element.

"Now I have three Pyro dice and one Universal die," Lucas grinned. "I summon the Combat Card 'Xiangling'!"

[Xiangling]

Element: Pyro | Level: 4 | ATK: 1500 | DEF: 1500

Skill: Culinary Smash—After defeating a Combat Card, increases ATK and DEF by X points (X = defeated card's Level × 10).

"All set and ready to cook!"

With a lively voice, a cheerful blue-haired girl appeared on the card's surface.

"Wait a second," Shenhe said in surprise. "Isn't that the girl from Wanmin Restaurant? Why is she a Combat Card too?"

Shenhe had assumed Combat Cards only included monsters or creatures.

"Genius Invokation TCG revolves around 'elements,'" Zhongli explained. "Any being associated with elements can appear as a Combat Card, including humans with Vision powers."

"Whatever," Shenhe waved dismissively. "Xiangling only has 1500 ATK, which is 2000 points lower than my Combat Card. She's not a threat."

This was simple math Shenhe could easily handle.

"It's not over yet," Lucas said as he played another card. "I activate the Effect Card 'Shield in One Hand, Sword in the Other'!"

[Shield in One Hand, Sword in the Other]

Effect Card

Effect: Swaps the base ATK and DEF of all face-up monsters on the field until the end of the turn.

"Another Effect Card..." Shenhe frowned. "Wait, that means—"

"Exactly," Lucas said with a nod. "Your Cryo Armored Chieftain now has 1400 ATK. Xiangling, attack!"

"Let's heat things up!"

Xiangling charged at the Cryo Armored Chieftain and, with a precise strike, defeated the once-intimidating monster in an instant.

"Activate her skill—let's turn the defeated Cryo Armored Chieftain into a dish!" Lucas declared.

Xiangling summoned a giant cooking pot out of thin air, tossed the Cryo Armored Chieftain inside, and after a bubbling sound, emerged holding a plate of delicious-looking meat, happily enjoying the meal.

This was Xiangling's skill. Though one couldn't help but wonder what would happen if she defeated a human Combat Card—an unsettling thought indeed.

Because the Cryo Armored Chieftain was a Level 6 Combat Card, Xiangling's ATK and DEF each increased by 600 points, raising her stats to 2100.

"She... she ate it?" Shenhe bit her lip in disbelief. "Defeated by a mere Level 4 Combat Card..."

"These are the rules of the game," Lucas said smugly. "If you're unhappy, take me down in your next turn."

"Just wait. It's my turn now!" Shenhe exclaimed as she rolled her dice.

Pyro: 3, Hydro: 2, Cryo: 1, Anemo: 1, Universal: 2.

Seeing the results, Lucas frowned slightly.

Her luck is impressive again—she can summon a Level 5 Combat Card.

However, sweat began to form on Shenhe's forehead as she muttered, "How... how could this happen?"

Lucas immediately realized the problem and smirked. "Don't tell me… you have no summonable Combat Cards left?"

"Damn it…" Shenhe cursed under her breath. "I didn't include any Combat Cards below Level 6 in my deck."

Due to the game's mechanics, summoning high-level Combat Cards—or even those below Level 4—wasn't easy. Players needed Function Cards to adjust dice rolls, much like Lucas had done earlier.

Unfortunately, Shenhe had packed her deck solely with high-level Combat Cards, completely ignoring Function Cards.

"This is what's called being 'stuck,'" Zhongli interjected. "In Genius Invokation TCG, a balanced deck with synergy is essential for victory. Relying solely on powerful Combat Cards will seldom lead to success."

With no summonable Combat Cards or usable Function Cards, Shenhe had no choice but to end her turn.

"Looks like it's my turn again," Lucas said as he rolled his dice. "Here goes!"

Dice results: Pyro: 2, Hydro: 1, Cryo: 1, Anemo: 1, Electro: 1, Dendro: 1, Universal: 1.

Once again, the results were scattered.

"Even with Xiangling's 2100 ATK, you can't finish me off in one turn," Shenhe said confidently. "If I get another turn, I'll turn the tables."

Normally, Combat Card stats corresponded to their level. Cards below Level 5 rarely had ATK exceeding 2000. Even if Lucas summoned another low-level Combat Card, he wouldn't be able to defeat Shenhe outright.

"Unfortunately, you won't get another turn," Lucas grinned. "Using two Pyro dice and one Universal die, I summon 'Large Pyro Slime'!"

[Large Pyro Slime]

Element: Pyro | Level: 3 | ATK: 1000 | DEF: 500

Skill: Pyro Aggregation—Gains 500 ATK for each Pyro Element Combat Card on the field (excluding itself).

Normal slimes were typically Level 2, while large slimes were Level 3.

The Large Pyro Slime absorbed the Pyro energy from Xiangling, instantly growing in size. Its ATK increased to 1500.

"You've got another trick up your sleeve?" Shenhe calculated briefly, then said calmly, "But it's still not enough, is it?"

"It's not over yet," Lucas said, drawing a card. "I'll use four dice to activate the Equipment Card 'Moonpiercer Spear.'"

[Moonpiercer Spear]

Equipment Card | Level: 4 | ATK: +500

Effect: When directly attacking a player, deal additional damage equal to the equipped Combat Card's level × 100.

Xiangling's hands suddenly wielded a long, slender spear resembling a needle, and her attack power increased to 2600.

"Wait a second!" Shenhe looked confused. "What's an Equipment Card, and why can it use dice of different elements?"

Zhongli explained calmly from the side, "Equipment Cards are Function Cards. Like Combat Cards, they require dice equal to their level to summon. However, unlike Combat Cards, Equipment Cards can be activated with any combination of dice, as long as the total number is sufficient."

Generally, high-level Equipment Cards have special effects that significantly enhance the equipped unit's abilities.

Since elemental dice are the most valuable resource, summoning Combat Cards is usually the priority. But when summoning is not possible, using Equipment Cards is a viable strategy. With no elemental restrictions, Equipment Cards rarely lead to "dead hands."

This is one of the key differences between Genius Invokation TCG and Yu-Gi-Oh!—the strategic allocation of resources each turn.

"Now, I'll attack you directly with both Xiangling and Large Pyro Slime!"

Under Lucas's command, Xiangling thrust her spear toward Shenhe, while the Large Pyro Slime launched a towering assault.

Of course, this wasn't a "dark game," so these virtual attacks were purely visual and caused no real harm to players.

[Shenhe's HP: 3900 → 0]

"I win!" Lucas grinned. "So, ready to admit defeat?"

"This… this doesn't count! I didn't fully understand the rules!" Shenhe gritted her teeth. "Just wait until I build a new deck and challenge you again!"

Zhongli, observing from the side, wore a thoughtful expression.

She wasn't surprised by Shenhe's performance. For a beginner, the mistakes she made were entirely normal.

Lucas, on the other hand, intrigued her. If he truly was playing Genius Invokation TCG for the first time, his quick comprehension and ability to form a synergistic deck in just half an hour were remarkable.

Though his easy victory was partially due to Shenhe skipping her second turn, his mastery of the rules in such a short time was impressive.

What Zhongli didn't know was that Lucas had a hidden talent, 'Wisdom of the God of Knowledge,' which greatly enhanced his learning and comprehension abilities. The game's similarity to Yu-Gi-Oh! also contributed to his rapid grasp of its mechanics.

[Wisdom of the God of Knowledge: Your learning and comprehension abilities are significantly enhanced.]

For the next several hours, Zhongli patiently coached the pair, mainly facilitating duels between Lucas and Shenhe while providing feedback after each match.

"It's getting late," Zhongli finally said, glancing at a clock on the wall. "Let's stop here for today. I can't neglect my duties at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor either."

"Oh, right…" Lucas suddenly recalled something. "Hu Tao is also competing in the Tianshu selection, isn't she? Don't you need to train with her too?"

"Hu Tao has been playing Genius Invokation TCG for quite some time," Zhongli replied, shaking her head. "In fact, people like you two, who have never played before, are in the minority."

Indeed, as a game that had taken all of Teyvat by storm, Genius Invokation TCG was incredibly popular and widely known. It appealed to players of all ages and backgrounds.

However, Shenhe had spent most of her life in seclusion in the mountains, and Lucas had been traveling incessantly since his arrival in this world. It was no wonder they were unfamiliar with the game.

"I'll leave these cards here for your practice," Zhongli said as she stood. "See you tomorrow."

"Goodbye," the two replied in unison.

As Zhongli stepped outside, she noticed a woman seated in a nearby pavilion. The woman smiled faintly at Zhongli and said, "It's been a long time. Care for a drink? By my count, it's been centuries since we last met."

The woman was none other than Cloud Retainer in her human form-Xianyun, one of the few beings who knew Zhongli's true identity.

When old friends reunite, few words are needed; a glance or two suffices to convey their thoughts.

Though Zhongli was the Geo Archon, her relationship with Xianyun resembled that of equals rather than a superior and subordinate.

"What do you think of that child?" Xianyun asked abruptly.

"Shenhe? I have my plans for her," Zhongli replied. "I assume you're asking about Lucas."

"That man, yes," Xianyun said, her tone contemplative. "Although he seems sharp and refined, I feel that's not his true self."

"So, it's not just me who thinks so," Zhongli mused. "I had a similar impression. Something about him feels… off."

"I didn't want to interfere with Ganyu's matters," Xianyun admitted with a sigh. "But the first time I met Lucas, something about him struck me as peculiar."

"Is that why you're using the Tianshu selection to test him?" Zhongli asked coolly. "It's a reasonable approach."

"But even semi-divine beings can participate in the Tianshu selection," Xianyun frowned slightly. "Aren't you, as the Geo Archon, concerned about this?"

"Semi-divine beings are still half-human," Zhongli explained. "Besides, I don't believe humans are inherently inferior to them. If I were to exclude them, it might diminish humanity's standing instead."

"Ha!" Xianyun chuckled softly. "If Adepti can become part of Liyue Qixing, perhaps one day, a human might become the Geo Archon."

Zhongli's eyes narrowed slightly as she murmured, "A human… as the Geo Archon…"

Realizing her words might have been too bold, Xianyun quickly added, "Just a jest, nothing more."

----

Author's Note: Ehhhhh sorry, I really have almost no knowledge about the card games, so these things went out of my head, sorry if there's any mistake and let me know...