Olorun and Kenji sprinted down the dimly lit corridor, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the cold stone walls. Kenji's breathing was steady but strained as he glanced at Olorun, who seemed unnervingly calm despite their pace.
Ahead, two massive stone figures loomed, their bulky forms blocking the entire path. They stood motionless, like ancient sentinels carved from the very rock of the castle itself. Kenji skidded to a stop, glaring at the obstacle.
"Alright, Olorun," Kenji said, catching his breath. "How do we get past these two?"
Olorun slowed to a halt, squinting at the stone guardians. "Uhhhhhh... mmmmmm... huhhhhhh…"
Kenji clenched his fists. "YES OR NO?!"
Olorun raised a finger, his expression thoughtful. "Yes, but—"
Kenji groaned, his frustration spilling over. "Why is there always a 'but' with you?!"
Olorun shrugged. "Because it's never simple. These guys... they won't fight us, and we can't destroy them. They're the legendary Stone Guardians, unbreakable and immovable."
Kenji narrowed his eyes. "Unbreakable, huh? You're telling me I can't just punch my way through?"
"Nope," Olorun said, shaking his head. "To get past them, we need to beat them in a card game."
Kenji blinked. "A card game? Are you serious right now?"
Olorun nodded solemnly. "Dead serious. These guys are unbeatable in combat, but they love a good card game. It's the only way to pass."
Kenji sighed heavily. "This is my first time dealing with this nonsense. You've seen them before?"
Olorun smirked. "Wait until you get to World 3. These guys are nothing compared to what you'll face there."
Kenji muttered under his breath, "Not helping, Olorun."
The first stone guardian stepped forward, his voice a deep rumble that echoed through the corridor. "If you wish to pass, you must defeat us in a game of wits. Only then shall the path be clear."
Kenji folded his arms, glaring at the massive figure. "And what if I don't feel like playing?"
The second guardian laughed, his voice like grinding boulders. "Then you'll stay here forever. Many have tried to force their way through. None succeeded."
Kenji's jaw tightened. "Fine. What's the game?"
The first guardian held up an ancient deck of cards, the edges worn with age. "Stone Shuffle. The rules are simple, but the stakes are high."
Olorun clapped his hands together, grinning. "Alright, let's do this."
Kenji sighed. "I swear, if I lose, I'm blaming you."
Olorun chuckled, stepping forward to take the deck. "Relax, Kenji. How hard can it be?"
The game began with the stone guardians shuffling the ancient cards with surprising dexterity. Kenji leaned over the makeshift stone table, his eyes narrowing in focus, while Olorun casually flipped his cards.
"This is too easy," Olorun muttered under his breath, smirking as he placed a card on the table.
Kenji shot him a glare. "Don't get cocky. We can't afford to lose here."
The first guardian slammed a card down, causing the entire table to quake. "Stone Smash Combo! Ten points to us."
Kenji's face twisted in disbelief. "What?! Ten points already?"
Olorun waved dismissively. "Relax, I got this." He laid down a card. "Rock Breaker Reverse!"
The second guardian chuckled darkly. "Foolish move." He placed another card. "Double Stone Shield. You lose five points."
Kenji slammed his hands on the table. "Olorun, what the hell was that?!"
"Calm down," Olorun snapped, glaring back. "You're the one who told me to play defensively!"
"I said strategically!" Kenji barked. "Not whatever that was!"
The first guardian leaned forward, grinning. "Are you two always this disorganized? No wonder you're losing."
Kenji clenched his fists. "Don't get smug, you overgrown boulder!"
The guardians placed their final card. "Stone Avalanche. Game over."
Kenji froze, his mouth agape. "What?!"
Olorun stood, rubbing the back of his head. "Okay, maybe I underestimated them."
Kenji pointed an accusing finger. "You underestimated them?! You lost us the game, Olorun!"
"Me?!" Olorun snapped, jabbing a thumb at his chest. "You're the one who kept yelling and breaking my concentration!"
Kenji groaned, pulling at his hair. "This is why I hate card games!"
The second guardian chuckled. "Would you like to try again, or do you admit defeat?"
Kenji growled. "Oh, we're trying again. Shuffle the cards."
Olorun crossed his arms, leaning back. "Alright, genius. You think you can do better? Be my guest."
"Gladly," Kenji shot back, snatching the deck. "Watch and learn."
The guardians grinned, reshuffling the deck. "Let's see if round two goes any better for you."
Kenji gritted his teeth, locking eyes with Olorun. "This time, no screw-ups."
"Right back at you," Olorun muttered.
Kenji held up a hand, stopping the guardians as they were about to deal the cards. "Wait, wait, wait! Before we begin, I need an explanation. Like, a detailed explanation. I'm talking every single rule, every card's meaning, and all the ways we can win. Got it?"
The first guardian sighed heavily, leaning on his stone arm. "You mortals always complicate things."
The second guardian nodded. "Fine. Listen closely. The game is called Stonebound Tactics. You each get ten cards, and the goal is to either reach fifty points or reduce your opponents to zero points."
Kenji nodded, his eyes narrowing. "Alright. Go on."
The first guardian continued, "There are three types of cards: Attack, Defense, and Strategy. Attack cards deal damage to your opponent's points. Defense cards block incoming damage. Strategy cards are wild and can change the flow of the game."
Olorun smirked. "Sounds simple enough."
Kenji shot him a look. "I said every detail, Olorun. Don't rush this."
The second guardian chuckled. "Each card also has a rock affinity—granite, basalt, or obsidian. Matching affinities boosts their power. For example, a Granite Smash card with a Granite Shield will double the defense."
Kenji blinked. "Rock affinities? Great. Anything else?"
The first guardian nodded. "You can also play combo moves. If you stack three cards of the same type and affinity, you unleash a combo that deals double points and can't be blocked."
Kenji raised an eyebrow. "Unblockable, huh? What about Strategy cards? What's their deal?"
The second guardian leaned forward. "Strategy cards are tricky. They can manipulate the rules—swap hands, double your score, or even cancel an opponent's combo."
Kenji scratched his head. "So, it's all about planning ahead."
Olorun groaned. "Kenji, can we please start now?"
Kenji held up a finger. "Hold on. I'm not done. What's the penalty for losing?"
The guardians grinned. "If you lose, you stay here forever, doomed to shuffle cards for eternity."
Kenji's face paled. "What?! That's insane!"
Olorun shrugged. "Motivation to win, I guess."
Kenji took a deep breath, locking eyes with the guardians. "Alright, deal the cards. But I swear, if you pull any sneaky tricks, I'm flipping this table."
The guardians chuckled as they dealt the cards. "Let's see if you're ready, mortal."
Kenji gritted his teeth, glancing at Olorun. "This time, no mistakes."
Olorun smirked. "Relax. I've got this."
Kenji muttered under his breath, "Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of."
The guardians placed the deck down, their rocky fingers surprisingly nimble as they shuffled. Kenji stared at the cards, his mind racing with the rules they'd just been given.
The first guardian dealt ten cards to each of them, the stone slabs that served as their makeshift table groaning under the weight. "Your turn, mortals."
Kenji picked up his cards, eyes narrowing as he studied them. He had a mix of Attack, Defense, and Strategy cards—no combos yet, but he could work with this. Olorun, on the other hand, was already grinning like he had the game in the bag.
Kenji leaned over, voice low. "What's your hand look like?"
Olorun smirked. "Stacked, as usual. Trust me."
Kenji's eye twitched. "That's what you said last time, and look where that got us."
"Shhh," Olorun whispered. "I have a plan."
The first guardian played a card, slamming it down with a thunderous boom. "Granite Smash. Ten points to us."
Kenji flinched. "Ten points already?! Are you kidding me?"
Olorun waved a hand dismissively. "Relax. I'll counter." He laid down a card. "Basalt Wall. Blocks all incoming damage this turn."
The second guardian chuckled. "Interesting choice." He played a Strategy card. "Swap Hand. Let's mix things up."
Kenji and Olorun's cards flew out of their hands, exchanging with the guardians' cards. Kenji's face darkened as he looked at his new hand. "Olorun, I swear…"
"Not my fault," Olorun muttered, glancing at his own cards. "But I can work with this."
Kenji slammed down an Attack card. "Granite Breaker. Fifteen points to us."
The first guardian countered with a Strategy card. "Stone Shield. Blocks five points of damage and adds five to us."
Kenji groaned. "These guys are unreal."
Olorun chuckled, playing another Strategy card. "Stone Swap. I take back our original hand."
Kenji blinked as his old cards returned. "Finally, something useful."
The second guardian played another combo. "Triple Basalt Barricade. Unblockable. Ten points to us."
Kenji clenched his fists. "They're ten points away from winning."
Olorun grinned. "Not for long." He placed three cards on the table. "Obsidian Overdrive Combo. Double damage, unblockable. Twenty points to us."
The first guardian's rocky eyebrows lifted. "Impressive."
Kenji followed up with a Defense card. "Granite Fortress. Blocks any attack this turn."
The guardians hesitated, then played their final Strategy card. "Stone Reset. Reshuffle all hands and start over."
Kenji slammed the table. "Seriously?!"
Olorun laughed, unfazed. "Relax. We've got this."
As the cards reshuffled, Kenji's determination flared. He glanced at Olorun. "No more screw-ups."
Olorun smirked. "Same to you, partner."
The guardians reshuffled the deck, their stony faces unreadable. "Round two begins now. Let's see if you've learned anything."