Chapter 28 The Man, The Myth, The Bastard.

Turning my head to spot the bald miscreant known as Patches, I wasn't expecting his appearance specially when Ranni and Radahn's deck become available.

The Most unnerving thing about his appearance is that I can tell he's not just a spirit, He's semi Corporeal.

"Its been a while but I would guess you don't mind that since I know your a very Patient and persistent person."

He rubs his nose and smirks under his hand, "You know me already chum, we'll got together like a Sword and shield."

I smirk in response, "Oh I have no doubt about that but I just need to check something."

This causes Patches's Face to become confused before spreading his arms out dramatically. "Ask away, I'm an open book, nary a Blot on my pages"

I laugh at the repeat misleader's jokes before simply saying the name of four locations while counting my fingers while looking at him. "Nexus, Firelink Shrine, The Ringed City and Yharnam."

Each name causes his eyes to flinch before he looks at me again with a more interested look. "It seems your an experience individual like me, I could tell there was more behind your eyes than most would see but to Know of my past escapades, it just proves your smarter than most."

We just smirk like the pair of Trolls we are.

"There's only three things I want from you, but they depends if you kept some 'Souvenirs' from your escapades." this causes Patches to squint his eyes and smiles at me before responding cockily. "Maybe, it depends, I don't think some sharp implements would be welcome around here if that's what your asking."

I Lean my head to the side, "oh I don't need weapons, my the cards alone are strong enough to have me covered in that avenue but what I want are one of a pair of bells you might have in your 'Sticky' fingers and a spice coated ring from your 'over-arching' adventures."

This causes the face of Patches to morph into a grump expression. "Why not rob me of house and Home my friend, you want some prime articles here and want to pay Zilch, No dice."

I smirk before speaking with a laugh, "One thing that will never change about you is that at the core of your being, your a right cheapskate."

This causes him to regain his smirk. "At least I don't try and cover it up, like priests and those lot."

I just shrug, before looking away. "What do you want for the bells and ring." At my words the Greedy Bastard's Grin becomes ear to ear. 

"I Owe a few people some favours and for it I feel there should be a single object you could get me which I could use to pay off the debt. Give me a one of those energy things you used to pull me from that mess in your head and you can have them."

This causes me to pause at the sheer audacity of the request, Patches want to trade for a god core. . .

I start to rub the bridge of my nose and look at him, "Who is it for ?" 

With a look of complete seriousness he says, "Volcano Manor and Lady Tanith." 

When Patches gets serious it means he means it, she must have saved his skin to get this big of a debt from him like what the Ashen one does in the ringed city.

"I can't promise it but, in the future when the next one becomes available I'll consider the option."

 Patches Closes his eyes thinking that's the best he can hope for. "Anyway Pal, Could you explain this world to me, Its weird being in a world without things trying to stab you every minuet."

I think for a second before Searching though the new deck to reveal a certain Monster card.

[Trusty Patches ★★★★ Dark][Warrior/Tuner/Effect][ATK:1200/DEF:1800]

"This world is way past the sword and arrow era of combat, but for some reason there's a Sub world of monsters like in Yharnam, but unlike Yharnam the monsters arn't as crazy while only appearing in the forms of these cards which are used in a game against others. 

Each card is different and In your case your in the form of a Monster, but with these cards can be possess by the monsters from the sub world, that's your current situation." He just nods along to the explanation.

"Look at that Handsome fella, Well tell me Pal, Is my card good or bad in this game? I'm just curious."

I read the card and tilt my head in confusion. "Well I won't say its bad, but I know your card is at least good but I'm not sure if its an ace card since a lot of the text in it speaks about interacting with 'Tarnished Lord' like its a group."

He tilts his head in confusion, "you make it sound like its not meant to be a group?"

"Its not since this world's peak cards are are god card level in power and the only Tarnished Lord I currently have is 'Moonlit Tarnished lord.'" I reveal the god card to patches, but as I show it to him, I come to a realization. . . in Elden ring there have only been really 4 gods, Miquella/Radahn/Mogh, Marika/Radagon, Malenia and The Tarnished. . .

If it takes a God core to make a deck which reasonably has a god card, connected to them, they either need to have someone of divine power or strength to hold the deck together.

The demi-gods have enough of strength and will to form the decks, but its a fact that they don't work together outside of some exceptions, If a deck has a pair of Demi-gods within it, they would fight for the God core of the Deck metaphorically. 

This though cause me to come to a very interesting theory, If the Demi-gods metaphorically clash in a deck it creates a shattering scenario where a Tarnished Lord card becomes the God card of the deck like what happened in the game.

'Miquella next time you get a God core, try an examine the god card of a deck between a pair of the demi-gods would be like, maybe Mogh and Morgott.' I mentally whisper to him.

I get back the spiritual equivalent of a shrug.

"I just had a theory but if its correct, Your more useful than a lot of cards in my possession but i'm getting a head of my self, I know you don't like to stay in one place for too long so, I won't stop you from getting up to you usual antitics, but If I summon you don't ditch me like at the Radahn Festival."

Patches Shrugs before grinning "Oh don't worry Chum, I won't do anything of the sort, were thick as thieves we are, I'll always have you back, but I think I'll go have some fun around town maybe make some coin, you know me."

I have an evil Idea, I go to the dumpster which houses the pair of Mufasa and Scar and find them still unconscious, I nick Scar's Deck of Dark Scorpion cards and walk away.

I Palm the Deck and looks at Patches who looks at it in curiosity, I explain.

"During the tournament, there's an ante rule in place for the most rare card, I know an 'entrepreneur' like yourself would make head way with a band of thieves at his back, so here"

As I hand it over to Patches I make 5 of the Dark Scorpion cards in the deck into the Spirit card versions summoning the Duel spirits.

Patches Watches as the 5 thieves appear with a Grin, "Oh I knew we were gonna be friends from day one." as he says this I essentially Mind dumps the rules and how to play yugioh in his head before walking off to Kaiba corp stadium which is currently being built.

"Have fun and oh if you find some people in black robes with gold eye symbols, I don't like them and their working for a priest who wants to kill children, so do with that information as you want."

Patches starts laughing as I can tell he goes off to do what he does best.

Mess with people who think they can control the world around them, while making a profit of their misery.