"Wait, Irene, didn't you notice the biggest difference in Aisha this time?" Another first-year who also sensed something odd in Aisha's Duel pointed it out: "Did you see it? Aisha actually set a card in the back row?"
Irene suddenly had a realization. "You're right! Aisha actually managed to refine a Spell or Trap Card?"
In every Duel up to now, Aisha had never used a Spell or Trap Card—because her Deck didn't contain any.
"So there is a difference. Otherwise, you wouldn't even have the guts to stand before me."
As turns changed, Kevin began his first turn as the second player and drew from the Elves' Eyes.
"But no matter how much you've changed, Aisha Yuna Carlos, as the bottom-ranked student, you'll never surpass me!"
He selected a monster from his hand and flung it into the field. From a magical shimmer emerged a lizard-like creature.
"I summon in Attack Position—Lizard Soldier!"
[Lizard Soldier] Level 3│WIND│Dragon│1100 ATK
Wielding a sword and shield, this monster had decent stats for a Level 3. Once summoned by Kevin, it immediately entered battle.
"Battle phase! Destroy the opponent's face-down monster, Lizard Soldier—'Ironblade Slash'!"
The face-down monster Aisha had set was flipped up, then immediately was slashed apart.
[Mokey Mokey] Level 1│LIGHT│Fairy│100 DEF
A 1-star weakling with a tofu-block body and a question mark atop its head, Mokey Mokey had no resistance and was easily destroyed.
The tofu split, the card shattered, and it was sent to the Graveyard.
The little blob let out a final, squeaky "Mokey…!" before bursting into sparkles, its tofu-like form diced cleanly in half.
The sharp wind from the blade strike left Miles awestruck—it was his first time experiencing a real summoned monster battle up close.
'A Duel with monsters so real they could tear the sky apart... this was every Duelist's dream in the world I came from!'
Now, the once-fantasy scenes from card games were vividly real before Miles's eyes.
'This is thrilling!' Even though his monster was the one destroyed, Miles couldn't suppress the grin tugging at his lips.
"Aisha is still using weak monsters, yet she's smiling?" Aisha's odd reaction made Irene worry. "And that smile... Is that really something Aisha would do? It's too weird!"
Having won the opening exchange, Kevin felt assured. No matter how much Aisha changed, her Deck was still filled with low-power monsters.
"Useless resistance. I set one card in my Spell/Trap Zone. Turn end!"
Kevin flung another card into the backfield.
"My turn, draw."
As the turn resumed, Miles drew from the Elves' Eyes using Aisha's slender fingers and scanned the card.
Aisha said, "Mr. Miles, this card is—"
"Perfect timing." Continuing his defense, Miles cast the card drawn this turn onto the field.
"I summon another monster in face-down Defense Position. Turn end."
"Still hiding? Can't even summon a monster face-up, Aisha Yuna?"
From the start of the Duel, Miles had only summoned in face-down Defense. This clearly annoyed Kevin.
"Defense is a tactic, too, isn't it? Save your taunts for after you actually beat me, Kevin Seth!"
Seeing Miles provoke Kevin so directly, Aisha—in soul state—panicked.
"Ahhh, Mr. Miles, you can't say that! That's not something I would say, please don't go off script."
"Aisha, you really have been holding back too much."
As the saying goes, if you can't talk tough while Dueling, you might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes.
Even if you lose everything, never lose your spirit.
"My turn, draw!"
While Aisha and Miles bickered, Kevin had already drawn his card for the next turn.
"Wait until I really beat you? Fine then, I'll grant your wish this turn. Witness the difference between the bottom and the elite! I summon—[Dunames Dark Witch]!"
[Dunames Dark Witch] Level 4│LIGHT│Warrior│1800 ATK
Bathed in a sacred glow, she spread pure white angelic wings. Even second-years watching the match gasped.
"A Level 4 monster with 1800 ATK... that's basically the ceiling for this tier. Kevin Seth really lives up to his 100% win rate."
"And I'm not done yet!" Kevin flung a Spell Card toward [Dunames Dark Witch].
"—Equip Spell Elf's Light, activate!"
[Can only be equipped to LIGHT monsters. Equipped monster gains 400 ATK, loses 200 DEF.]
"I equip Elf's Light to Dunames Dark Witch, raising her ATK by 400!"
[Dunames Dark Witch, ATK: 1800 → 2200]
"That's a C-rank Equip Spell! Now her ATK's over 2000," Irene said, troubled.
Kevin now had Lizard Soldier and Dunames Dark Witch with 2200 ATK on his field.
In contrast, Aisha only had a face-down Defense Position monster.
If this was another weakling like before, it could be instantly wiped out by [Dunames Dark Witch]'s 2200 ATK.
"Battle! My monsters, attack! Lizard Soldier, strike the face-down monster!"
Indeed, that was Kevin's plan—use Lizard Soldier to clear the defending monster, then finish with Dunames Dark Witch's direct attack.
"Weaklings shouldn't hide!"
Lizard Soldier's sharp blade once again flipped up Aisha's face-down monster.
"Heh, took the bait." With his trap sprung, Miles (as Aisha) grinned. "The monster I summoned in Defense Position was—Crowned by the World Chalice!"
[Crowned by the World Chalice] Level 2│WATER│Spellcaster│2100 DEF
From the sideways card shimmered a soft glow—rising within it, a purple-haired priestess emerged, wreathed in clear waters. With a solemn gesture, she conjured a crystalline barrier that halted the Lizard Soldier's blade mid-strike.
"Whoa~" Irena lit up upon seeing a familiar card.
"2100 DEF—that surpasses your Lizard Soldier's ATK. You'll take 1000 damage as battle damage reflection!"
No one expected that in a Duel between the weakest and the strongest, the first to suffer a heavy 1000 damage would be Kevin himself.