Pouf had his plans, and so did Ging.
When Ging played the Little Bee Buzz Sting, Pouf immediately concluded that Ging's deck was not primarily poison-based.
The reason was simple: poison strategy itself focused on seizing the initiative. It was a tactic of slowly eroding the opponent, so the sooner it was set up, the higher the win rate.
If Ging were using a poison strategy, he wouldn't have wasted a turn earlier.
Although Pouf couldn't guess Ging's subsequent moves, he didn't need to guess.
No matter what Ging intended to do, as long as he proceeded steadily, his win rate remained one hundred percent.
"Leaf Spider, Web Gather."
Pouf suppressed his surging emotions and flipped over a Soil-type Insect card.
It was a leaf-shaped spider. After appearing, it spat a faint green silk thread towards Ging, stretching horizontally to Ging's right.
Soil-type Insect cards had the characteristic of round brewing. After use, they required 'X' rounds to trigger their effect.
The Leaf Spider Web Gather Pouf used was a card needing five rounds to activate. Its main effect was to concentrate and enhance poison effects.
Since the Leaf-bellied Insect would be destroyed in three rounds, during these three rounds, Pouf wouldn't foolishly use poison-effect Insect cards… that would only waste rounds and MP.
Soil-type cards were prepared for this moment. Before the Leaf-bellied Insect was destroyed, Pouf's task was to lay down three Soil cards, setting the stage for poison cards in the fourth round.
"Little Bee, Buzz Sting."
Ging glanced at the silk thread to his right. He could basically guess Pouf's subsequent cards but used Little Bee again.
Pouf's eyes turned icy, allowing the Little Bee to sting another bump on his cheek. His HP dropped to 98.
Then, Pouf still used a Soil-type Insect card. Its effect was similar to Leaf Spider's Web Gather, also requiring five rounds to brew and trigger, mainly enhancing poison damage.
In response, Ging just calmly used Little Bee's Buzz Sting.
Three rounds passed. Pouf's HP remained at 97, with three bumps on his face.
At this round, the remaining third of the Leaf-bellied Insect's body was completely devoured by the white silkworm. Both then turned into points of light and vanished.
From that moment, Ging was essentially defenseless.
"Experience what hell feels like! Black Widow, Lingering Poison!"
Pouf sneered coldly, taking out a Water Drop-type Insect card.
After use, the card transformed into a palm-sized black spider that pounced onto Ging's shoulder, biting down and causing 3 points of damage.
The pain converted from the potent poison acted on Ging's nerves, yet Ging didn't even furrow his brow.
In this realistic game, there was still a characteristic players had to overcome: each HP reduction converted into pain feedback to the player.
So, if one's pain tolerance wasn't strong, they might lose consciousness halfway through the game.
The Black Widow was known for its potent poison, but here its effect was a sustained Water Drop-type Insect card.
Its effect lasted five rounds. After use, it dealt 2 damage in the current round, and in the subsequent four rounds, each round produced 2 points of poison damage.
Ging turned his head calmly, looking at the ferocious black spider so close. Originally 2 points of damage, now 3 points. Clearly, it was because Pouf's Attack card effect added 1 point of poison damage.
Thus, Black Widow's Lingering Poison combined with three round-brewing effects like Leaf Spider's Web Gather, supplemented by the Attack card that increased poison damage, had an exceptional effect.
It was foreseeable that by the fifth round, once Leaf Spider's Web Gather concentration effect triggered, it would unleash a burst of over 20 points of damage.
With three Soil cards total, that meant three consecutive rounds of high burst damage. Presumably by then, HP would drop directly below 50.
But given the current game environment, the concern wasn't just HP loss, but also the extreme pain from that 20-point burst damage.
'Planning to take me out within ten rounds? Originally, poison strategy required at least twenty rounds to decide victory. This is the unreasonable aspect of a pay-to-win player.'
Ging pinched his chin. This terrifying poison combination wasn't seen in regular games with 100 MP.
This was equivalent to a deck originally only allowing two high-level Insect cards. But Pouf paid to increase the high-level card limit to five or even more.
Of course, if a regular player really wanted a thrill, they could achieve it too. But that required shivering through a defensive setup for at least ten rounds, with low success rates, mostly only fooling novice players.
But in this matchup, having over 300 MP allowed Pouf to use this oppressive strategy with one hundred percent success.
In response, Ging still calmly played Little Bee again.
"Buzz..."
I sting, I sting, I sting again!
A fourth bump appeared on Pouf's cheek. HP dropped to 96.
His eyes darkened with gloom, not understanding why Ging could remain so calm after his setup was complete.
'Whether it was victory or pain, the upcoming three consecutive rounds of over 20-point burst damage should be enough to drive any player to despair, right?'
"Even if you can stay this calm now, after two more rounds, you will definitely feel fear!"
It was Pouf's turn. Black Widow's Lingering Poison sustained effect triggered. Ging suffered 3 points of poison damage, falling behind Pouf in HP.
Pouf remained expressionless, playing another Water Drop-type Insect card. Its effect was similar to Black Widow's Lingering Poison, but its poison damage was only 1 point. With the Attack card bonus, it became 2 points damage. However, its duration was as long as 7 rounds.
Thus, Ging would suffer up to 5 points of poison damage per round, basically reaching the maximum per-round poison damage. Factoring in the three consecutive high-burst rounds, Ging would lose in less than ten rounds.
"Come on, let me see your fearful expression!"
A hint of madness appeared in Pouf's eyes, but he looked at Ging with anticipation.
Ask me if you're angry or not! Angry or not?!
What greeted Pouf was still that annoying buzz.
Ging remained perfectly calm. The Insect card he used transformed into a cute little bee, diligently lifting its tempting little rear, flying before Pouf, and slowly, forcefully, inserting it into his cheek!
A fifth bump instantly appeared. HP -1, leaving 95.
After stinging, the Little Bee let out a happy buzz, returned to Ging's side, and then disappeared.
'Clearly at death's door...'
Pouf's face, with five bumps, flickered between emotions.
First anger, then eerily calm.
'It doesn't matter, I'll win anyway.'
Sun-type instant Insect card!
Pouf used a Green Caterpillar, dealing four points of poison damage to Ging.
Simultaneously, Leaf Spider's Web Gather concentration effect activated. The five faint green silk threads beside Ging turned deep green, binding him.
With a soft poof, Ging's face inexplicably turned sickly green. Above his head, a damage value as high as 22 points appeared.
If converted to pain standards, this was equivalent to the highest level of pain.
Suffering such high damage, even Ging couldn't help but grunt, his brows involuntarily furrowing.
Then, as his HP dropped to the 60s, Ging once again used Little Bee.
"Again?!" Pouf.