"Wah?! My Synchro Monster got taken down by some small fry?"
Staring in disbelief at Miles' Winged Kuriboh on the field with 3800 Attack, Villy's reaction was far less thrilled than the little princess.
Miles, on the other hand, felt a bit of regret that he hadn't slotted Dystopia the Despondent into his Deck.
Otherwise, this counterattack wouldn't have been Arcana Knight Joker's slash, but Dystopia's godly fist smashing him into pieces.
The damage wasn't the point—it was the satisfaction of hitting him harder.
"You're really ruthless, huh, little sister-in-law. It's only because of your sister's sake that I'm not taking this seriously. Even setting aside the difference in our family status, as a Duelist, you should be well aware of the difference between Fusion Academy and Starcrest Academy."
He forced himself to hold his ground to regain some of the marquis's dignity—because Villy Barrett had suddenly realized that the effect of the Quick-Play Spell Card Berserker Crush only lasted until the End Phase of the turn.
Next turn, Winged Kuriboh would return to being a 300 Attack small fry. Just a one-turn burst—not scary at all.
Even if Aisha Carlos wanted to activate Berserker Crush again, there was no monster in the Graveyard with a terrifying Attack like Arcana Knight Joker—at most, it'd be Summoned Skull with 2500 Attack.
"I activate the Spell Card Monster Reborn to revive Dark Strike Fighter from my Graveyard in Attack Position!"
[Dark Strike Fighter, ATK: 2600]
The Synchro Monster roared back to life on the field, restoring some of Villy's confidence.
That confidence also came from his identity and his academy.
"Starcrest Academy's championship win this year has proven that Synchro Summoning is the superior method of summoning. Meanwhile, Fusion Academy remains at the bottom. You know exactly what that means."
"And what does that have to do with you?"
"What did you just say?"
"I said—what does Starcrest Academy's championship have to do with you?"
Even if Starcrest Academy had won, it was thanks to the third-year seniors' efforts—what did it have to do with you, a second-year?
"Only Duelist trash keeps bragging about family status and their academy's standing. That's because you have nothing else worth boasting about!"
Miles, currently in control of Aisha's body, spared Villy no mercy. He was playing the role of a sharp-tongued beauty to perfection.
"You…"
As the marquis's only son, no one at Starcrest Academy had ever dared call him trash in a Duel.
"You'll pay for those words. Fine… I've decided. When I win this Duel, I won't just take Alice; I'll make sure the Carlos family's fief economy is sanctioned until you two sisters personally admit your submission to me!"
His true scummy nature revealed, Villy set his Spirit Eyes and declared the end of his turn, stressing:
"At the End Phase, your Winged Kuriboh's Attack will return to 300!"
[Winged Kuriboh, ATK: 3800 → 300]
Shedding its Arcana armor, Winged Kuriboh returned to its original adorable form.
"Now your monster can't stand up to my Synchro anymore!"
"Villy Barrett—of all people, you're the one I'll never forgive!"
Aisha thought, 'Somehow, Mr. Miles seems extra angry today…'
Usually, Miles reminded her that anger was useless in a Duel and only clouded calm thinking.
But today, from his constant sharp jabs to that kill-line declaration, his demeanor was nothing like in any past Duel.
'Could it be… for me?!'
…No—it was for Alice.
Miles had long felt that Alice Carlos, Aisha's elder sister, was very much like his own sister.
Parents gone early, a household where only the older sister and younger brother depended on each other. The eldest daughter acting as a second mother, shouldering every burden for the sake of their lives.
["Drop out? Miles, there's no need for that. Let me handle earning the money… You should focus on your studies. Boys need to get a proper education~"]
["You love dueling, right? If you have a passion, you should work to develop it. I'll work even harder, too. Oh… these cards are expensive? What, if you win the championship, you can earn money? Don't put that kind of pressure on yourself."]
Taking on every hardship alone, giving the best of everything to her brother.
In Miles' eyes, Alice Carlos was the same.
Without Spirit Eyes, she still did everything within her ability to perfection. As the perfect heir, she bore all of the Carlos family's difficulties so her younger sister could grow as a Duelist.
The more time Miles spent with Alice, the more her image overlapped with that of his sister.
So when Alice was insulted by the marquis, Miles stepped up promptly.
["After all, this Duel has to be won—on every level."]
Including, in its own way, easing the guilt he felt toward his own sister after leaving.
"My turn—draw!"
Thus, faced with Villy's escalating scumminess, even the calm Miles couldn't avoid feeling anger.
"I Normal Summon Mokey Mokey in Attack Position!"
[Mokey Mokey, ATK: 300]
"Th-this monster is… kawaii!"
The little princess Nova's young heart was once again shaken. She had never felt anything special toward these plain white tofu-like creatures…
But Mokey Mokey's signature bored and indifferent expression, as if seeing through everything and nothing at the same time, struck her squarely in her moe-loving heart.
"So there really are super cute Duel Monsters… you weren't lying to me, brother!"
Boredom turned to anticipation. She stood up from her seat to get a closer look at the adorable monsters and the way Aisha Carlos fought with them.
"I want to see more of these cute monsters! Are there more, brother?"
"Mm, from what I recall, there should be."
From Deion's memory, Aisha's Deck should still have plenty of Kuriboh monsters—just not sure how many more would show up this Duel.
If she could show off more Kuribohs, maybe his sister would truly become interested in Dueling. For the royal family, that'd be an achievement worth noting.
"Hahahaha!"
Seeing the tofu cube flap its wings in the air, Villy laughed.
However, not like the princess's expectant smile—it was mocking.
"No wonder Crush Card Virus didn't work on you. What even are these monsters? Kuriboh? Tofu? You really won't let me off, huh? Oh, I'm sooo scared~"
"Go, Mokey Mokey! Get him!"
Ignoring Villy's useless taunts, Miles commanded his Mokey Mokey.
Tofu Impact!
The white tofu rocketed forward, its signature expression leaving a trail in the air as it slammed into Dark Strike Fighter.
Boom—!
With a dull thud, the tofu crashed into the bomber's steel body, triggering a chain of explosions.
The bomber that had been calmly flying moments ago was now smoking and spiraling to the ground.
"Wha—?!"
Villy Barrett was left with a shocked, disheveled expression.
"My Synchro Monster… destroyed by a tofu cube?!"
"I told you—any one of my remaining monsters can knock you flat. I made Mokey Mokey itself into the bullet!—Quick-Play Spell Card Order to Charge!"
[Target 1 Normal Monster you control (except a Token); Tribute it, then target 1 monster your opponent controls; destroy that target.]
After Tributing Mokey Mokey to destroy Dark Strike Fighter, Miles still had one last card in hand.
"—I activate the Spell Card—Card of Demise!"
[Card of Demise: Draw until you have 5 cards in hand. During your 5th Standby Phase after activation, send your entire hand to the Graveyard.]
The ultimate draw engine—Miles was looking for the key card to vent his fury.
Draw! ×5
Five draws—every single one a Spell or Trap. Not a single monster.
This outcome was a 120% over-fulfillment of Miles' expectations.
The more Spells and Traps he drew, the more that meant his remaining Deck was packed with monsters.
"You're finished, Villy Barrett!!"
Throwing his entire hand into the Graveyard, Miles activated the key to his win condition.
"I discard my entire hand to activate—Berserker Soul!"
[Discard your entire hand; draw 1 card, and if it's a monster, send it to the Graveyard and choose 1 monster you control with 1500 or less ATK to attack once more. Repeat until you draw a non-monster card.]
"I target Winged Kuriboh with 300 Attack—direct attack!"
"Kurii kurii—!"
Fueled by Berserker Soul, Winged Kuriboh threw a punch straight into Villy's smug face.
"Pwah!"
Getting slapped in the face twice in one day by a small fry monster—both Villy's and Marquis Barrett's pride were in tatters.
Even so, the true execution was just starting.
[Villy, LP: 2800 → 2500]
After Winged Kuriboh's first hit, Berserker Soul's effect continued.
"Draw—Monster Card! Kuriboh! When I draw a monster, Winged Kuriboh attacks again!"
Another punch!
[Villy, LP: 2500 → 2200]
"Draw—Relinkuriboh!"
[Villy, LP: 2200 → 1900]
"Draw—Revived Kuriboh!"
[Villy, LP: 1900 → 1600]
Beaten senseless by a barrage of Kuriboh punches, Villy looked at Miles in disbelief.
"Why… why are you drawing so many monsters?!"
"I'll tell you why, Villy—my Deck now has nothing but monsters left! The Duel is decided—this is pure execution time!"
"N-no, I'm the marquis's son… d-don't come any closer!"
Too late for mercy.
"Draw—Junkuriboh!"
"Draw—Rainbow Kuriboh!"
"Draw—Ankuriboh!"
"Draw—Performapal Kuribohble!"
"Draw—Kuribon!"
"Draw—Kuribandit!"
[Villy, LP: 1600 → 100]
Ten monster draws—Winged Kuriboh pummeled Villy down to his last breath—100 LP.
Meanwhile, Princess Nova was trembling with excitement.
"So many adorable Kuriboh monsters! What is this Deck? Aisha Carlos's Deck is nothing like any other Duelist's!"
"Draw—Sphere Kuriboh! Direct attack!"
"Kurii kurii—!"
With the final Kuriboh drawn, Winged Kuriboh landed the finishing blow.
[Villy Barrett, LP: 100 → 0]
"Aaaaaahhh!!"
Ten-hit Berserker Soul combo—Miles, with just Winged Kuriboh, had completely flattened Villy, fulfilling his Duel promise.
"Damn it… I actually lost to this… small fry… damn it!"
"Don't think this ends here, Villy! Berserker Soul continues until I draw a non-monster card!"
Seeing he had no remorse, Miles's fleeting sympathy vanished.
"Keep hitting him, Winged Kuriboh!"
"Kurii kurii!"
With nothing but monsters left, Miles tossed his entire Deck into the air.
The shining cards rained down like the spirit of the berserker itself, empowering Winged Kuriboh.
"Ora ora ora ora ora!!"
Thirty-hit combo—by the end, Villy was unrecognizable.
K.O.!
"Now your face really does look like your father's!"
The Carlos family vs. Marquis Barrett family Duel—
In the stunned silence, Aisha Carlos's crushing victory was the ultimate insult to the marquis's family.
Aisha said, "Mr. Miles, wasn't the corpse-beating a bit much?"
Even she realized now that this way of winning had completely enraged the Barretts. The banquet hall was silent, all eyes waiting for Marquis Barrett's reaction.
Then, a clear, cheerful girl's voice broke the tension.
"Aisha Carlos, come here—quick, quick! Let me see your Deck!"
It was Princess Nova, leaning over the Duel arena railing, her face full of joy.
The other person completely won over by this Duel—the third princess—was the one least obliged to care about the marquis's dignity.
With the Carlos family summoned by the princess after their win, not even Marquis Barrett had the right to be angry.
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going!
[Patreon.com/RedZTL]