On the National Luck Arena.
Lu Shen surveyed the arena, which resembled a gladiatorial pit, with a mix of curiosity and novelty.
Is this the National Luck Arena?
Being there in person was a completely different experience from watching it in his memories.
Lu Shen's opponent was Sada Kojiro, Sakura Country's current player with a record of 11-0.
He only needed one more victory to reach 12 wins, which would earn Sakura Country 30% of the National Fortune.
Sada Kojiro was brimming with confidence, looking spirited and arrogant.
The look in his eyes when he gazed at Lu Shen was one of undisguised contempt.
"I am the guardian of nature."
"Watch your back."
As the opening sound effects for the Druid and Rogue played, Lu Shen's National Luck Arena match officially began.
Lu Shen's Rogue went first, and Sada Kojiro's Druid went second.
The first player started with 3 cards.
The second player started with 4 cards and an additional The Coin.
Sada Kojiro looked at his hand, a smile playing on his lips.
The reason was simple: his starting hand was an absolute god-tier opening.
Wild Growth, Nourish, Innervate, Swipe, The Coin.
On the first turn, he would use The Coin for Wild Growth.
On the second turn, he would use Innervate for Nourish.
By the third turn, he would have 6 mana crystals.
First, he would use Swipe to clear the board, then he could play minions on curve.
Meanwhile, Lu Shen looked at his three starting cards, which didn't belong to a "Miracle Rogue" build at all, and fell into contemplation.
Young Dragonhawk, Abusive Sergeant, Abusive Sergeant.
It turned out that the three randomly filled cards in his deck were one Young Dragonhawk and two Abusive Sergeant.
Looking at the cards in his hand, an interesting idea spontaneously arose in Lu Shen's mind.
Perhaps, he could do something interesting!
...
Outside the National Luck Arena, the live broadcast used a God's Eye view, allowing the audience to see both players' hands.
The moment both players' hands were revealed, countless bullet comments poured out.
"The Druid has a god-tier opening, the Rogue is definitely going to lose!"
"Hahaha, our Sakura Country is about to gain another 30% of the National Fortune!"
"Sada Kojiro, I love you, I want to have your babies!"
"The Rogue's hand is all 1-cost cards, is this a joke?"
"Xia Country's National Fortune Possessors don't know how to play Hearthstone; the previous nine have proven that very well."
Xia Country's audience clenched their fists as they watched the live bullet comments.
Before the National Luck Arena descended, Xia Country was a military power, and its people were proud to be Xia Country citizens their entire lives.
After the National Luck Arena descended, as Xia Country's National Fortune Possessors failed again and again, Xia Country's National Fortune was weakened repeatedly.
Many Xia Country people had already lost confidence and fighting spirit.
Almost no one held out hope for the last National Fortune Possessor.
The few who hadn't given up hope secretly sighed after seeing Lu Shen's three 1-cost cards.
Especially when they saw Lu Shen draw another 1-cost card on his first turn.
Everyone's thought was: the Druid has this in the bag, the Rogue is done for.
Lu Shen drew a Cold Blood on his first turn.
"Hehe, it seems the card dealer is helping me."
Lu Shen was secretly delighted, played a Young Dragonhawk, and ended his turn.
Young Dragonhawk, Minion card, 1-cost, 1/1.
"Windfury."
(Windfury: Can attack twice in one turn.)
...
Inside Xia Country's National Conference Room.
When the group of high-ranking officials saw that Lu Shen had chosen Rogue as his class, instead of Warrior or Druid, they all looked surprised.
"Isn't it a bit too rash to use an original deck at this time?"
"All four cards in his hand are 1-cost. Is this an aggro deck that aims to deal damage early?"
"Even if it's an aggro deck, the class should be Hunter; Hunter's hero power is clearly more advantageous than Rogue's."
"Could it be that this kid saw that the previous National Fortune Possessors had all high-cost starting hands, and to avoid a slow start, he built a low-cost deck?"
"Sigh, how could he do this? It's completely throwing out the baby with the bathwater, only looking ahead and not behind!"
"Bang--"
Suddenly, an old man with graying temples but an imposing presence slammed the table heavily.
In an instant, the previously noisy conference room immediately fell silent.
This old man sat in the main seat; he was the supreme leader of Xia Country, Chief No. 1.
"What time is it and you're still complaining?"
Chief No. 1 scanned the room, his gaze finally settling on Lu Shen's image in the live broadcast:
"Instead of worrying, it's better to wait and see. All of you, quiet down!"
...
On the National Luck Arena.
It was Sada Kojiro's turn.
He didn't play a card first, but rather--
"You cannot stop the force of nature."
"You cannot stop the force of nature."
"You cannot stop the force of nature."
After sending "threats" three times in a row, Sada Kojiro finally played The Coin for Wild Growth.
The Coin, Spell card, 0-cost.
"Gain one mana crystal this turn."
Wild Growth, Spell card, 2-cost.
"Gain an empty mana crystal."
On the first turn, he only had one mana crystal.
After using The Coin to gain one mana crystal, he played the 2-cost Wild Growth, gaining an empty mana crystal.
This way, by the Druid's second turn, he would have 3 mana crystals available to use, achieving a ramp.
After completing the actions, Sada Kojiro did not click to end his turn but continued to send "threat" Taunts.
"You cannot stop the force of nature."
He continued until the rope burned out, automatically ending his turn.
Lu Shen was speechless.
Seriously, even in the National Luck Arena, he encounters a rope burner?
Oh, right, his opponent was a Sakura Country player, who seemed to be having a good day.
Then it's fine.
On Lu Shen's second turn, he drew a 0-cost Backstab.
Initially, the Rogue's starting hand, being all 1-cost cards, was already not well-regarded by the public.
Now, with another 0-cost card, it was even more jaw-dropping.
Looking at the live screen, where the Rogue's hand had no card costing more than 2 mana, countless mocking voices followed one after another.
"LOL, the Xia Country person's 5 cards combined only cost 4 mana."
"Haha, he still has cards to play on the second turn, but by the third turn, won't his hand be empty?"
"The Druid is going to use Innervate and Nourish on the second turn, leading the first player by three mana crystals. How is the Rogue going to fight that?"
"Xia Country is already out of it. We can congratulate Sada Kojiro on his 12th win in advance!"
"Although popping champagne halfway through isn't great, for the Rogue to win, he would have to Execute the Druid before the third turn."
"6 cards to deal 30 damage? If they were high-cost cards, there might be a chance, but the Xia Country person has all low-cost cards; it's impossible!"
...
Lu Shen couldn't see these bullet comments.
If he could, he would definitely exclaim, "You're an expert!"
How did you know I wanted to end the battle in three turns?
...
