Three duels unfolded simultaneously, six Spirit Eyes blazing within the black mist.
"Then let us begin—this Shadow Game fueled by life force itself! Ahead lies nothing but hell!"
The dark energy from Locke Slint's Millennium Eye spread out, merging with the Sacred Beasts' cards. The Shadow Game's field expanded to an unprecedented scale, enveloping all three duels at once. The surroundings truly became hell itself, echoing with the anguished cries of absorbed lives and souls.
Miles and the others had never seen hell firsthand—but if such a place existed, then without a doubt, this was the truest depiction of it born from human hearts.
"Ah…" Ren trembled at the sudden sight of this inferno.
"What's this? Already afraid before it even begins, Ren?"
"As if! With you here, Miles, even hell holds nothing to fear!"
More than the theatrics of a hellish Shadow Game, what weighed on Ren's heart was Professor Field, now enslaved by the Millennium Rod. She had once escorted him after a Shadow Game, supporting him as he endured twenty turns with only mortal strength. She knew the toll it had taken on his mind. Now forced into another Shadow Game, the damage could only worsen.
"I'm sorry, Professor. Please, hold on. I'll save you!"
"..."
Professor Field gave no reply, only standing coldly across the dark. The teacher who once cared more than anyone for his students now faced them in a Shadow Game. Perhaps more painful than wounds of body or soul was the torment of his conscience.
"Come! A ritual duel to honor the Sacred Beasts—you will be the final sacrifices!"
At Locke Slint's roar, the three Shadow Games began. Spirit Eyes gleamed—the first move belonged to Locke. Likewise, on the other fields, Reigun and Field also claimed first turn. The enemy side moved as one.
"I Normal Summon—Dark Beckoning Beast!"
[Dark Beckoning Beast] Level 2│DARK│Fiend│0 ATK/0 DEF
A lizard-like fiend flapped its wings, materializing onto Locke's field.
"A cute little thing," Miles muttered. "Regardless, with zero Attack and Defense, that's dangerous."
Aisha snorted. "Even Mokey Mokey could beat that. What's the problem?"
Naïve girl. Zero stats in Yu-Gi-Oh! usually meant terrifying effects. And surely, this twisted creature held immense dark power.
"I activate Dark Beckoning Beast's effect! On summon, I can add one 'Dark Summoning Beast' from my Deck to my hand."
From the darkness of his Spirit Eye, Locke drew a card—a pitch-black Fiend of Level 5.
"Dark Beckoning Beast also grants me an extra Normal Summon of a Fiend with 0 ATK and DEF!"
Using that, Locke Tribute Summoned the monster he had just searched.
"Bring forth darkness—Dark Summoning Beast!"
[Dark Summoning Beast] Level 5│DARK│Fiend│0 ATK/0 DEF
A larger, more grotesque fiend descended. Its increased Level made Miles uneasy.
"Dark Summoning Beast's effect—directly call forth the Sacred Beasts! Tremble before the guide of darkness!"
[By Tributing this card: Special Summon 1 'Uria, Lord of Searing Flames', 'Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder', or 'Raviel, Lord of Phantasms' from your hand or Deck, ignoring conditions. This turn, your monsters cannot attack.]
By Tributing itself, the monster let him Special Summon a Sacred Beast straight from the Deck. In short… one card into a Sacred Beast.
"Crush all life and stand atop endless vitality! Descend—Raviel, Lord of Phantasms!"
[Raviel, Lord of Phantasms] Level 10│DARK│Fiend│4000 ATK/4000 DEF
The massive azure Raviel manifested, made even more terrifying by the Shadow Game's setting. Normally, it required three Fiend Tributes. Here, Locke summoned it with one card.
"And once sent to the Graveyard, Dark Summoning Beast has another effect!"
[By banishing this card from your Graveyard: Add 1 'Uria, Lord of Searing Flames', 'Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder', or 'Raviel, Lord of Phantasms' from your Deck to your hand.]
"I add Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder! I then Set three Spells and Tribute them to Special Summon! Descend, Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder!"
[Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder] Level 10│LIGHT│Thunder│4000 ATK/4000 DEF
After Raviel, another colossal beast tore through the dark with thunder.
Aisha gasped. "Two Sacred Beasts, on turn one?!"
No longer the sluggish old general, Locke's body rejuvenated by stolen life force, now pressed forward with relentless aggression.
"My turn ends!"
The Empire Marshal stood, half-naked muscles glistening, two 4000-ATK Sacred Beasts like guardian deities at his sides. On turn one, the pressure was suffocating. Worse still, his Millennium Eye peered through cards and minds alike.
"Look on the bright side," Miles muttered. "At least he didn't summon all three in one turn."
The words had barely left his mouth when fire erupted on Kaima and Reigun's field, dyeing the darkness red.
"By Tributing three Traps, I Special Summon the flame that burns all—Uria, Lord of Searing Flames!"
...
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