“I am a protector of nature.”
“Watch your back.”
As the opening sound effects of both heroes rang out, the second match began.
Sada Kojiro went first, and Lu Shen went second.
After replacing their hands, both players' starting hands were as follows.
Sada Kojiro still had a perfect opening hand, though not as good as the previous match.
Wild Growth, Swipe, Nourish.
Lu Shen still had a hand full of low-cost cards, but not all of them were 1-cost cards.
Young Dragonhawk, Preparation, Fan of Knives, Edwin VanCleef, The Coin.
Sada Kojiro drew a card first.
A Starfall was added to his hand.
The first turn only had one Mana Crystal.
Sada Kojiro had no cards he could play, so he could only pass.
But he did not choose to end his turn immediately; instead, he wasted time in a very annoying way.
“You cannot stop the power of nature.”
Amidst the intertwining sounds of “threat” and the burning fuse, the turn automatically ended after a minute had elapsed.
Lu Shen was completely unfazed by this, his mindset unaffected.
It was his first turn, and he drew another Preparation.
Looking at Edwin VanCleef and two Preparation in his hand, Lu Shen felt a stir of excitement.
However.
It was the first turn, and even with The Coin, he didn't have enough mana.
He would wait until the next turn.
Lu Shen simply played a Young Dragonhawk and decisively ended his turn.
…
In the National Luck Arena Livestream.
The moment Young Dragonhawk reappeared, the people of Xia Country's eyes lit up.
They generally didn't have a deep understanding of Hearthstone.
They only knew that this card had performed brilliantly in the previous game.
They thought that as long as Lu Shen played Young Dragonhawk, half of this match was won.
Gradually, some Xia Country netizens began sending bullet comments in the livestream:
“Good, the hero of the previous game is back!”
“Can it continue its past glory? Let’s wait and see!”
“Lu Shen, go for it!”
…
It was Sada Kojiro’s second turn.
At the start of the turn, he drew a Claw Druid.
According to his original plan, Sada Kojiro should have played Wild Growth to gain mana.
But the scene of Young Dragonhawk soloing him in the previous game was still vivid in his mind, forcing him to guard against this card.
“The opponent is going second in this match and has The Coin in hand, making it easy for him to play ‘Combo’ effects.”
“If I don’t remove Young Dragonhawk this turn, next turn the opponent will apply two Cold Blood to Young Dragonhawk and kick me twice in the face, and 18 health will be gone.”
“Anyway, after gaining mana this turn, I’ll still only have 4 Mana Crystals next turn, unable to play Nourish.”
“It’s better to clear the board this turn and then use Wild Growth to gain mana next turn.”
After some thought, Sada Kojiro did not play Wild Growth.
He chose to play it safe and used the Druid’s hero power, 【Shapeshift】.
After gaining 1 Attack and 1 Armor, the Druid leaped high and attacked Young Dragonhawk.
Both sides only had 1 Attack, dealing 1 damage to each other.
The 1 Armor on the Druid disappeared.
And Young Dragonhawk perished.
…
Young Dragonhawk died!
The great hero who defeated Sakura Country in the previous game perished as soon as it appeared.
This made the hearts of the Xia Country people turn cold.
In stark contrast were the bullet comments from foreign netizens in the livestream.
At this moment, they seemed particularly lively:
“Haha, Sada Kojiro is ruthless enough; he’s willing to remove Young Dragonhawk even if it means not gaining mana.”
“Oh no, the Rogue’s core damage is gone.”
“Without Young Dragonhawk, how will the Xia Country people ‘steal’ a win?”
“Foolish Xia Country people, naively thinking the same trick can work twice. It’s hilarious.”
“The Druid will use Wild Growth on turn three, Nourish to gain mana on turn four, and by turn five, he’ll have 8 Mana Crystals, allowing him to play high-cost minions as he pleases.”
“Next, this match is about to enter garbage time.”
…
After the fuse burned out, Sada Kojiro’s turn forcibly ended, and it was Lu Shen’s second turn.
“Spell card!”
“Give me a spell card!”
Lu Shen closed his eyes, silently praying in his heart.
As long as he drew a spell card this turn, he could create Big Van this turn.
“My turn, draw a card!”
A card was added to his hand, and Lu Shen slowly opened his eyes.
Good news, it was a spell card.
Bad news, this card couldn't be played this turn.
What met his eyes was a dizzy, armored soldier.
Sap, Spell card, 2 Mana.
“Return an enemy minion to your opponent's hand.”
There were no minions on the opponent's board, so this Sap could not be used.
So.
Should he still create Big Van this turn?
Lu Shen didn't think too much before making a decision in his heart.
“Fan of Knives can draw a card, and I have another chance.”
“Even if I don’t draw a usable spell card, I can still create an 8/8 Big Van.”
“The opponent’s Druid will only have 3 Mana Crystals next turn. Ramp Druid won’t carry Owl. I only lose to Innervate plus Jungle Guardian’s silence.”
“Such a heaven-sent opportunity, who could resist creating Big Van?”
Lu Shen took a deep breath, first used Preparation, then used Fan of Knives to draw a card.
Preparation, Spell card, 0 Mana.
“The next spell you cast this turn costs (3) less.”
Fan of Knives, Spell card, 3 Mana.
“Deal 1 damage to all enemy minions. Draw a card.”
Due to Preparation’s mana reduction effect on spell cards.
When Lu Shen used Fan of Knives, its mana cost became 0.
Coupled with Fan of Knives’ card draw effect, another card was added to his hand.
Seeing the newly drawn card, Lu Shen's lips curved slightly.
It was another Fan of Knives.
Yes!
He could create an unprecedented Big Van!
Lu Shen once again used Preparation first, then Fan of Knives.
Then he played The Coin, gaining an additional 1 Mana Crystal.
Finally.
He played Edwin VanCleef.
Edwin VanCleef, Minion card, 3 Mana, 2/2.
“Combo: Gain +2/+2 for each other card you’ve played this turn.”
Lu Shen had played two Preparation, two Fan of Knives, and one The Coin before playing Edwin VanCleef this turn.
A total of five cards.
Therefore.
Edwin VanCleef gained a +10/+10 “Combo” effect bonus.
“Victory belongs to the Brotherhood!”
A 12/12 Big Van made a dazzling appearance on the second turn!