Chapter 425 'The Cat God's Blessing'

"I know, and I am only teasing, but I am glad that you came to me! I have your cards made, but I took a few liberties!" Goldy laughed and then waved as a portal opened to a strange store that was filled with people.

The two of us walked out, and the portal closed as I looked around. The place was covered in all sorts of play card displays, and there were golden boxes on each of the tables filled with gold packs, but I saw no labels on them or the boxes.

Goldy stayed quiet beside me as I walked over to some glass displays. I looked at all the fancy cards that were displayed there, and then looked over at Goldy, who was grinning.

"What did you do? What happened to my business card?" I asked, and Goldy looked away sheepishly but still grinning.

"Like I said, I took a few liberties with the design. Look, I have been trying to get the rest of the world interested in our trading card games for hundreds of years now, but I can never seem to find something that really gets everyone's attention all at once. Then you came to me with the idea about your cards, and that sparked an idea for me! We can kill two birds with one stone! All the girls are going to want to get ahold of these cards!" Goldy explained, and I looked around the room.

"And what is this supposed to be?" I asked, looking around, already knowing.

"The official first unboxing and draft! I thought since it was my turn with you, you wouldn't mind showing up with me and signing a couple autographs? Maybe even play some games with the girls and join the draft?" Goldy asked hopefully, and I looked around the room at all the Dwarven women looking back at me. This was the first time that I had seen so many of them in one spot, and it was cute!

"Sure! If this is what you want to do, then who am I to say no to this? I am interested to see what the art is going to look like, and I would also like to see how this game is played," I said before looking at Goldy, who was already bouncing on her feet with energy.

"Oh, you are in for a treat then! Let's do it!" she exclaimed and grabbed my hand as we walked up to the front of the room, where there was a raised wooden platform. "Everyone! Gather around! It's time to unbox and draft! Tonight we have a very special guest, just like I promised! Your very own, Galio! The Cat God!"

​ The women all cheered and clapped, but I waved my hand before looking back to Goldy, who was grinning from ear to ear. "Let's get started then! We have a lot of brand-new cards that none of you have even got a chance to peek at! Everyone gets three packs, and we have pods of eight to a table! The top 6 regional champions from Terra will have a chance to place with yours truly, and the Cat God!"

The cheers and clapping got even louder, and I couldn't help but smile. This looked like it might be a lot of fun, even if I didn't win or even know how to play yet. Still, being put at a table with all these champions made me a bit nervous, but I was excited too.

Once everyone had three golden packs, Goldy stood up again. "Everyone opens one pack, and then picks a card, and passes the rest of the pack right! After this pack is done, we will start the next, but pass left, then the last pack will be right again!"

Everyone went to their tables and started the draft while I opened my first pack. In it was a card called 'The Cat God's Blessing,' which had a beautiful piece of art of me on it. That was the first card that I opened, and it was an enchantment that gave me and creatures I control +2/+2.

The draft continued, but I was able to stay with it, even though the champions were picking cards a lot faster than I was. The first pack went by smoothly, but then when we opened the next pack, mine had a shiny card in it. It was a mythic rank creature called 'Ophiuchus, Cat God,' and it was a 4/4 with flying, vigilance, trample, and lifelink.

The only thing was that when I tilted the card, the holographic image shifted, and my clothing disappeared.

"Goldy! What the hell is this?!" I demanded as I held the card up, and all the women started to blush and giggle at the same time.

"What? I told you I took a few liberties with the cards!" Goldy said, and then winked at me. "This card is going to be a very popular one! The other girls will go crazy over it!"

"I asked for calling cards, not... This!" I complained, but the dwarf woman beside me jabbed me in the side.

"Are you going to pick the card or not? Or do you just plan on cuddling with the cards for the rest of the night?" The woman asked, and I rolled my eyes.

"Fine! I will keep it, and I am going to beat the pants off every one of you!" I declared, and all the Champions nodded in agreement before moving on to the last pack.

By the end of the draft, I had a pretty decent deck with only one copy of 'Ophiuchus, Cat God,' as well as some other strong creatures and spells. Goldy was right about one thing; everyone else seemed to be obsessed with the card, and I heard a few of them asking if they could get a copy.

After the draft ended, Goldy broke us up into pods to play our games, but mine was filled with people that were in my first draft. I went in filled with hopes that the deck I had built was going to work.