"Are you... serious?" Miles smiled helplessly, his expression a tangle of emotions.
The complicated part—this guy actually had no clue about Aisha's deck and used a Crush Card Virus strategy.
The helpless part—it just so happened the timing worked out, right when Miles had pulled off a god-hand opening, and then got hit with the virus.
Using the DARK-attribute Sangan on the field as the Tribute, the dark-purple virus spread across Miles's field. The 3800-Attack Arcana Knight Joker was the first to be infected and destroyed.
"Hahahaha, so your Fusion ace monster was taken out that easily. This strategy really never fails against you Fusion Academy duelists. Now, it's your deck's turn. All monsters with 1500 or more Attack will be destroyed!"
Watching the purple Crush Card Virus spread into the Spirit Eyes Deck, Villy Barrett grinned smugly.
Unlike Synchro-based decks, Fusion decks required fairly strong materials to summon powerful monsters.
Every student from Fusion Academy Villy had dueled before had been completely shut down by this strategy.
"I win!" Villy's expression twisted into theatrical arrogance.
Miles's deck, infected by the virus, sent all monsters with over 1500 Attack to the Graveyard in one sweep.
Only two monsters were destroyed: Summoned Skull and Dark Magician Girl.
Aisha asked curiously, "Miles, didn't you bring the Legendary Dragons or Dystopia the Despondent?"
"If I needed Legendary Dragons or Dystopia to beat a guy like this, that'd be an insult to the gods... and pure sabotage to myself."
Just two cards.
Villy Barrett had been boasting nonstop, yet only two monsters from Miles's deck had been affected by the virus.
"Huh? Why does your deck only have two monsters worth anything?"
"You're mistaken."
Miles raised Aisha's slender arm forward and showed the Spirit Eyes hanging on it.
"Every other monster in my deck is more than enough to beat you to a pulp!"
"Huh? You're gonna beat me with monsters under 1500 Attack? Sis-in-law, did you hit your head?"
"Call me 'sis-in-law' one more time and I'll rip your head off too!"
"So sharp, so vicious... Even so, I'm still in total control here. I activate the effect of Sangan sent to the Graveyard!"
[When this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard: Add 1 monster with 1500 or less ATK from your Deck to your hand.]
"I add the Tuner monster Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit to my hand."
"Ghost Ogre?"
If Miles remembered correctly, Ghost Ogre was less of a Tuner and more of a waifu hand trap beloved by collectors.
That this disgusting maggot could summon a cute card like Ghost Ogre honestly stunned Miles.
Yet, the moment Villy pulled the shimmering card from his deck, Miles understood.
A tradable card.
No doubt, Marquis Barrett had bought adjustment cards for his son using the family's wealth and connections.
Tradable cards weren't often discussed openly, but they were commonplace among the wealthy elite.
Not all tradable cards came from Shadow Games either.
Duel Monsters had existed for centuries on the Spirit Continent, and many legacy cards labeled "tradable" still circulated.
When a deck is powered up through family resources, fairness isn't even worth debating.
Some people never reach Rome in their lifetime. Others are born there. This world was never fair to begin with.
"I Set one card and end my turn."
Arcana Knight Joker was destroyed by Crush Card Virus. With nothing left on the field, Miles ended his turn.
"My turn! Draw!"
As soon as his turn began, Villy activated the Trap he'd set last turn.
"Continuous Trap Card, Supervise, activate!"
[Activate this card by targeting 1 Level 4 or lower monster in your GY; Special Summon that target. Increase its Level by 1 and ATK and DEF by 100. When that monster is destroyed, destroy this card.]
A Call of the Haunted for Level 4 or lower monsters—with the key trait being the Level boost.
Level was far more crucial in Synchro strategies than in Fusion.
Synchro Summoning, simply put, adds the Levels of two monsters.
"I Normal Summon the Tuner monster Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit from my hand!"
[Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit] Level 3│ LIGHT│Psychic / Tuner│0 ATK / 1800 DEF
The silver-haired, red-eyed, twin-tailed Ghost Ogre girl appeared on the field—not as a hand trap, but as a Synchro Tuner.
Using a hand trap as a Tuner showed just how scarce Tuners were in Villy's deck.
That's one drawback of students from the Kingdom of Livorden force-enrolling at Starcrest Academy.
As outsiders, they couldn't ensure access to Tuner monsters.
That said, Synchro Summons require at least one Tuner and one non-Tuner monster.
Right now, Villy had Ghost Ogre (Tuner) and Sangan (non-Tuner) on the field—perfect setup.
"Tuner level 3 Ghost Ogre and level 4 Sangan, total level 7—Synchro Summon!"
As expected, Villy initiated a Synchro Summon.
Ghost Ogre became a glowing ring and passed through Sangan. Seven stars aligned in his Spirit Eyes.
"Flames rising to the sky, bring destruction in your wake! Synchro Summon! Dark Strike Fighter!"
[Dark Strike Fighter] Level 7│DARK│Machine│2600 ATK /1800 DEF
[Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters]
Two monsters combined into a dark strike fighter jet, screeching across the battlefield.
"When Sangan is used as Synchro material and sent to the Graveyard, its effect activates again. I add Deep Space Cruiser IX to my hand!"
[Deep Space Cruiser IX: You can send 1 other Machine-Type monster from your hand to the Graveyard; Special Summon this card from your hand.]
"I send Black Bomber Ball from my hand to the Graveyard to Special Summon Deep Space Cruiser IX!"
[Deep Space Cruiser IX] Level 9│LIGHT│Machine│ATK: 900 DEF: 900
Aisha asked, "A Level 9 monster with only 900 ATK and DEF?"
She expected a powerful hidden effect; however, she saw nothing aside from its Special Summon condition.
"I'll turn this monster into my bullet! Dark Strike Fighter's effect, activate!"
[Once per turn, during your Main Phase 1: You can Tribute 1 monster; inflict damage to your opponent equal to its Level x 200.]
"I Tribute my Level 9 monster to deal 200 x 9 = 1800 damage!"
Deep Space Cruiser IX exploded midair, a thick cloud of smoke and fire engulfing the arena.
Princess Nova furrowed her brow and pouted.
"So much destruction again. Duel Monsters really are just symbols of violence and savagery. Just like Big Brother's Cyber Dragons! If this is what's supposed to change my opinion, then I'll never like dueling."
"Ahahaha, didn't expect that," Deion laughed awkwardly at his sister's scolding. His Cyber Dragons were far more destructive than this.
[Aisha Carlos, LP: 4000 → 2200]
With LP reduced by the effect damage, Miles now stood within kill range.
"This means I win."
Villy declared Battle Phase. Countless weapons aboard Dark Strike Fighter locked onto Miles.
Yet, as the missiles readied to fire, a fluffy Kuriboh-like monster leapt from the Graveyard onto Miles's field.
"When you declare a direct attack, I activate the effect of Clear Kuriboh in my Graveyard!"
[When an opponent's monster declares a direct attack: You can banish this card from your Graveyard; draw 1 card. If it is a monster, you can Special Summon it. Then, the attack target becomes that monster.]
Clear Kuriboh split open like a Russian nesting doll, revealing an even smaller, cuter Kuriboh on the field.
"Is that... also a Duel Monster?"
The young princess hugged her plush tighter, blinking in surprise.
"It's kinda... cu—"
"Clear Kuriboh? When did you have that in your Graveyard?" Villy demanded.
"It's been there from the start, you idiot—you just didn't notice," Miles smirked.
He had discarded Clear Kuriboh earlier as a cost for activating Joker's Straight. It had been lying in the Graveyard all along.
"I draw 1 card. If it's a monster, I can Special Summon it and redirect the attack!"
"Even if it's a monster, so what?"
Villy scoffed.
"Don't forget—thanks to Crush Card Virus, every monster with over 1500 Attack in your deck is gone. The rest are all weaklings!"
"I said, any one of my remaining monsters can still flatten you! Draw—!"
Miles drew the top card. A Monster Card shone in his fingers.
"I Special Summon the drawn Winged Kuriboh in Attack Position!"
[Winged Kuriboh ATK: 300]
Bathed in cleansing light, Winged Kuriboh manifested with two adorable angel wings.
Princess Nova was visibly shaken.
"Th-th-this!"
Clutching her plush tight, her cheeks turned pink and lips trembled.
"KAWAII! How can a Duel Monster be this cute?! What is a Kuriboh? It's so adorable!"
"You think Kuriboh is cute? Nova, you're still such a little girl."
Deion's prediction had hit the mark. Not a fearsome beast, but the supposedly 'useless' low-ATK monsters from Aisha's deck could win Nova over.
"But, but! Winged Kuriboh is cute, sure... but its Attack is super low. It's still a weak monster, right?"
For the first time, the anxious young princess felt concern for a Duel Monster.
A 300-ATK Winged Kuriboh summoned in Attack Position to block a 2600-ATK Dark Strike Fighter.
A difference of 2300 Attack would wipe out Aisha's remaining LP.
"If it's her, there's no need to worry."
With pride, Deion praised his sister.
"Aisha Carlos is a miracle duelist who can bring the strength of even the weakest monsters to their absolute peak. Just watch, Nova!"
"Quick-Play Spell activate, Berserker Crush!"
The moment Winged Kuriboh and Dark Strike Fighter clashed, Miles flipped his face-down card.
[Banish 1 monster from your Graveyard; until the End Phase, 1 face-up Winged Kuriboh you control gains ATK and DEF equal to the banished monster's.]
He banished Arcana Knight Joker from the Graveyard, granting its power to Winged Kuriboh.
"I banish Arcana Knight Joker to make Winged Kuriboh's Attack equal to 3800!"
[Winged Kuriboh, ATK: 300 → 3800]
"Winged Kuriboh—Arcana Form!"
Its form transformed, now clad in round black armor and wielding a holy sword. With short little arms, it slashed a trail of explosive fire.
"Inverse Celestial Slash!!"
Sacred sword energy cleaved the missile and bomber in one shining blow.
[Villy Barrett, LP: 4000 → 2800]
"Told you. Any one of my monsters left can beat you down!"
Staring at the Arcana Knight Kuriboh, Princess Nova's golden eyes sparkled like stars.
"What is this monster... It's so cool and so cute!!"
...
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