Morgan glanced at the card she drew and casually added it to her hand. With Thunder Dragon Colossus on the opponent's field, other than drawing, she basically couldn't add cards to her hand by searching her Deck.
Despite that, Morgan wasn't worried. After all, she had some versatile cards in her hand that could completely negate Thunder Dragon Colossus's effect.
After thinking for a moment, Morgan quickly settled on the next move.
Rowe, on the other hand, looked on unwillingly. She didn't know who Hakun really was, but his dueling skills and Deck were undoubtedly very powerful. Rowe had always thought that as a rising rookie of Team Predator, she'd be dominant even in Duel Academy's Senior Division. But now, her confidence was shaken.
If just anyone was this strong, then she wouldn't even rank in the Senior Division.
At this rate, forget going with Morgan to the Duel King selection tournament—she'd be replaced in Team Predator soon after returning.
Now wasn't the time for pride. The only one who could help her strengthen herself was Morgan.
Rowe decided to put aside her arrogance and focus on asking Morgan how to improve her Deck.
Meanwhile, Jade watched Morgan with a serious expression. Although Morgan had said this Duel was a teaching match for her, no matter how she thought about it, Jade couldn't figure out how to break through the opponent's lock.
Compared to the towering Thunder Dragon, these little birds seemed far too weak.
"Morgan, can you really win with this Deck?"
Jade asked softly. Morgan's strength was beyond doubt, but for a Duelist, the Deck was just as important.
Morgan turned to Jade and said with a carefree smile:
"Relax. As long as you say 'thank you, Empen bro,' this Duel is as good as won."
"Eh? Thank you… Empen bro?"
Jade tilted her head. Honestly, she couldn't figure out what Morgan was thinking.
Still, Morgan didn't explain to Jade and instead immediately began her move.
"I activate the effect of the Trap Card in my hand, Infinite Impermanence!"
"When you control no other cards, this card can also be activated from the hand!"
Hearing this, Hakun raised an eyebrow. A Trap Card that can be activated from the hand?
And he didn't know what its effect was.
He also overheard Morgan and Jade's earlier conversation. Calling this a teaching match? How arrogant.
Then the end of testing his new Deck would be defeat, both body and soul his to claim.
Hakun was indeed a Shadow Duelist. He came to the Senior Division to expand the Shadow Duelists' influence. Regardlesss, he wanted Morgan so badly that he chose her as his first target.
He had even obtained the boss's modified ritual array—the same kind used at the Duelist League—that could turn the defeated into Shadow Duelists after a Duel.
And now this Duel with Morgan was exactly that. He couldn't wait to see her submit.
Morgan, of course, had no idea what Hakun was thinking. She didn't care, and she couldn't be bothered.
No matter the Duel, as long as she claimed victory, it was no different from any other Duel.
"Target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls; negate its effects until the end of this turn!"
"I negate the effect of your Thunder Dragon Colossus!"
"What?!"
Hakun froze. This card not only activates from the hand, but it could also negate a monster's effect.
His suppression relied entirely on Colossus's search-preventing effect… With that negated, not only was that restriction gone, but its destruction replacement effect was too.
Now his Colossus was fragile, and he could only hope Morgan couldn't summon something stronger just yet.
"I activate the Field Spell, Floowandereeze and the Magnificent Map from my hand!"
A breeze swept across the field. Unlike the overwhelming presence of Thunder Dragon, this wind was gentle yet unceasing. Soon, an old map appeared.
'…Opening with a Field Spell?'
Charles was stunned. Field Spells boosted their archetypes greatly. He hadn't seen this card before, but it clearly wasn't a HERO card.
They said Morgan had a gift for building Decks and could master multiple ones. It seemed the rumor was true.
"The effect of Floowandereeze and the Magnificent Map!"
"Reveal 1 Level 1 Floowandereeze monster in your hand, banish 1 different-named Floowandereeze card from your Deck, then Normal Summon the revealed monster."
Morgan revealed Floowandereeze & Eglen from her hand to Hakun.
Since she didn't have the core Robina in hand, she chose to banish Robina for this search.
"I reveal Floowandereeze & Eglen, then banish Floowandereeze & Robina from my Deck!"
"Next, I Normal Summon Eglen!"
A white-headed eagle circled once before landing on the field, its small body a stark contrast to the hulking Thunder Dragon.
The stark difference immediately stirred chatter among the onlookers.
"Such a tiny bird! If it wasn't summoned, I'd doubt it was even a monster."
"And its Attack is so low. Even with Colossus's effect negated, Thunder Dragon's Attack is way higher."
"So Morgan's Deck is full of monsters like this? Maybe I'd actually stand a chance."
"Dream on. You can't judge Morgan's Deck by appearances."
Hakun thought the same. Though unhinged, he was cautious when it counted.
"I activate Eglen's effect!"
"When this card is Normal Summoned: Add 1 Level 7 or higher Winged Beast from your Deck to your hand, then you can immediately Normal Summon 1 Winged Beast."
'Another Normal Summon, not a Special Summon?'
Charles was certain now—Morgan's Deck revolved around Normal Summons. And his interest was piqued. What kind of Deck unfolds like this?
Suddenly, Charles understood why Morgan was so captivating.
"Next, I chain the effect of the banished Robina!"
"If you Normal Summon a Winged Beast while this card is banished: Add this card to your hand."
The chain resolved. Robina returned to hand, while Morgan searched her Deck for the undisputed boss of the Floowandereeze—Floowandereeze & Empen.
"I add Floowandereeze & Empen to my hand, then Normal Summon Floowandereeze & Robina!"
A tiny red-and-white bird flapped down, even smaller than Eglen—barely fist-sized. To Thunder Dragon Colossus, it was no more than an ant.
[Floowandereeze & Robina] Level 1│WIND│Winged Beast│600 ATK / 1200 DEF
"I activate Robina's effect!"
"When this card is Normal Summoned: Add 1 Level 4 or lower Winged Beast from your Deck to your hand, then you can immediately Normal Summon 1 Winged Beast."
This time, Morgan wasn't searching for a Floowandereeze card. She already had enough pieces to begin her plays. Instead, she searched for a card with a strong restricting effect—especially against Special Summons like Thunder Dragons.
"I add Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds from my Deck to my hand!"
'Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds?'
At Morgan's words, Isla's face grew complicated. She knew this old card—it was one of the Barrier Statues.
Its effect was simple: While on the field, neither player can Special Summon monsters, except WIND monsters.
Then Isla realized why Morgan had emphasized Normal Summons. Since Floowandereeze relied entirely on Normal Summons, the restriction wouldn't affect her at all—only Hakun.
Using this trait to slip in such a bizarre but potent card… that was so very Morgan.
Isla let out a sigh of admiration.
"Next, I Tribute Eglen and Robina!"
"Tribute Summon! Floowandereeze & Empen!"
A black-and-white penguin waddled forward, wind patterns across its back.
[Floowandereeze & Empen] Level 10│WIND│Winged Beast│2700 ATK / 1000 DEF
'2700 Attack?'
Hakun's face changed. Empen had 100 more Attack than Colossus. Just 100—but it might as well have been a chasm.
"When Empen is Tribute Summoned: Add 1 Floowandereeze Spell/Trap from your Deck to your hand, then you can immediately Normal Summon 1 monster."
"I add Floowandereeze and the Dreaming Town to my hand!"
Morgan had chosen the archetype's signature Trap, one that could flip all of the opponent's monsters face-down—a mass Book of Moon.
"I Normal Summon Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds!"
A green stone statue appeared on the field.
Then Morgan used Eglen's other effect to return it from the Banished Zone to her hand.
"I Set 1 card."
She placed the freshly searched Dreaming Town face-down. Her preparations were complete.
Morgan smiled confidently and declared her attack.
"Battle! Empen attacks Thunder Dragon Colossus!"
...
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