(Planet Granada, Leo's POV)
Outwardly, Leo showed no emotion, his face completely stoic as he reached for the second card to play, his movements steady and controlled as he ensured that not even a sliver of his maroon aura leaked from his body, as he refused to give Mauriss even the smallest indication of what he was truly feeling.
However, internally, his thoughts moved rapidly, dissecting the first exchange with ruthless clarity as he acknowledged what the outcome truly meant.
This… was not ideal.
His golem had taken significant damage right from the opening move, and although the difference was not catastrophic, it was enough to shift the balance slightly out of his favor, forcing him into a position where he would have to play more carefully moving forward.
Ideally, starting the game with a multiplier was not the most efficient way to play, as the value of such cards increased significantly in later stages where fewer options remained and each move carried greater weight.
