Morgan drew a card, smiling at Anneli. This turn, she would show her what a true full-trap Deck looked like. With new support, Traptrix's low Attack weakness had been patched a little. Not much—but with optimized Special Summons, even a small boost was deadly.
She'd dropped Parallel eXceed because her new Trap card filled a similar role. The very one she'd just drawn.
It counted as both a "Hole" and a "Traptrix" card—true Traptrix synergy.
All eyes were on Morgan. Last turn's flood of traps was still fresh, and the crowd eagerly awaited her new setup.
Anneli hadn't even reduced her monsters last turn. Continuous Spells had burned some of her LP, but nothing decisive. And this turn, Morgan had two Normal Summons thanks to Garden. With those, Anneli would struggle to endure.
"I Set a card."
Morgan placed her new Trap. Normally, players didn't Set first in the Main Phase one, but Traptrix did. She needed it for Mantis's bounce to trigger Sera, pulling another "Hole" or "Trap Hole."
The Set was her new Traptrix Trap: Traptrix Holeutea.
"Next, I activate Mantis's effect—return my Set Traptrix Holeutea to my hand, then Set it again!"
"Because Mantis's effect activated Sera's effect triggers!"
"I Set Void Trap Hole from my Deck!"
Anneli could only watch Morgan add another Trap. She didn't know what it did, but it had to punish her monsters' effects.
Rowe shivered. She'd seen this before. It meant Morgan was ready to torture. In past Duels, she'd seen Morgan end with five backrow… every one a "Hole" Trap, shutting down any Summon.
Without Harpie's Feather Duster or similar mass backrow removal, no one dared move. While not moving meant slow death.
Rowe had long since accepted that fate. She wondered how Anneli would handle it. In her view, the smart play was to aim for a quick win, or a loss in her case. The stream had already drawn its crowd.
Jade's eyes shone in admiration. She'd always found Morgan's Underworld Decks powerful, but when she tried to copy them, she failed. She could only mimic the spirit, never the form.
Despite that, Morgan had told her not to cling to Underworld play, handing her Floowandereeze instead.
Watching Morgan now, Jade wanted to chase the Underworld again.
That said, Morgan herself never worshipped it. She always stressed the mainstream. Floowandereeze to Jade was part of that philosophy.
The Underworld had limits—but Morgan did not.
"I overlay Traptrix Mantis and Traptrix Dionaea!"
"Xyz Summon! Traptrix Pinguicula!"
A pink-haired girl appeared, long bangs covering one eye. Petite, yet voluptuous, clad in just two white ribbons.
[Traptrix Pinguicula] Rank 4│2500 ATK / 300 DEF
Another new Traptrix support, boasting 2500 ATK—the highest in the archetype. Its effect searches for other Traptrix, making it a powerful addition.
"I activate Pinguicula's effect!"
"Detach 1 material; add 1 'Traptrix' monster from my Deck to my hand!"
A glowing orb sank into her chest. Morgan's Duel Disk processed and produced her target.
"I add Traptrix Arachnocampa to my hand!"
Earlier, Arachnocampa had been banished to revive Sera. Now, Morgan grabbed another copy to protect her Traps.
Since its Summon was Special, it didn't consume her two Normal Summons.
"I Special Summon Traptrix Arachnocampa!"
The jellyfish-haired girl reappeared, smirking impishly at Anneli.
And Morgan still had Traptrix Dionaea in hand. Next, she'd Normal Summon it, revive Pudica, and banish Anneli's monster.
Anneli was too tense to celebrate her stream's success. From the start, Morgan's moves had felt wrong. Two Normal Summons per turn were terrifying… too many options.
She eyed her Sets, lips tight. The thrill of Dueling live, paired with her channel's sudden boom, left her buzzing. Even so, she also felt hollow. These viewers weren't here for her. They were here for Morgan.
If she beat Morgan here… would their eyes turn to her?
The thought startled her, but it wouldn't leave.
She clenched her teeth. Morgan was human, too—humans lose.
Why not now?
Her desire to win surged. She wanted victory, to prove herself. Grateful to Morgan, yes—but her fighting spirit burned brighter.
Morgan smiled. "I Normal Summon Traptrix Dionaea!"
"When this card is Normal Summoned: Target 1 'Traptrix' monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it in Defense Position."
"I revive Traptrix Pudica!"
With Pudica, Morgan now had five Traptrix monsters on the field. With new support, Traptrix could swarm—enough for Accesscode Talker if she wanted.
She was glad. Before, the Deck just led into Rafflesia or a simple board wipe.
"I activate Pudica's effect!"
"When Special Summoned: Target 1 opponent's Special Summoned monster; banish it until the next Standby Phase."
Her target was clear—Anneli's Evil★Twin Ki-sikil.
"I banish your Evil★Twin Ki-sikil!"
Anneli's eyes sharpened. In that moment, she remembered her peer Kairos' words:
("If you don't struggle, no one knows how a Duel ends!")
Now was her moment to struggle.
"I activate Trap Card: Evil★Twin Challenge!"
...
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