Yaoyao glanced at the card she drew. Though she already had two high-ATK monsters on her field, she decided the safest approach was to dismantle Morgan's monsters with Frightfur's going-second plays. Frightfurs had plenty of monster-destruction effects, and Yaoyao had already chosen the right monster for the job.
"I activate the Continuous Spell, Frightfur Factory, from my hand!"
"By banishing 1 Polymerization from my Graveyard, I can use this effect."
"I send Fusion Materials listed on a Frightfur Fusion Monster from my hand or field to the Graveyard and Fusion Summon that monster from the Extra Deck!"
A Spell Card materialized beside her, and the Polymerization she used last turn shot out from the Graveyard, banished. With this, Yaoyao gained yet another chance to Fusion Summon.
Her hand still held plenty of materials, since the last turn she had used Frightfur Fusion to banish monsters from her Graveyard instead of her hand.
"Next, I activate Toy Vendor's effect!"
Yaoyao discarded a card and drew one—but unfortunately, it wasn't a Fluffal, but an Edge Imp. She sent Edge Imp Chain to the Graveyard.
That, however, triggered Chain's effect.
"I activate Edge Imp Chain's effect!"
"If this card is sent from the hand to the Graveyard, I can add 1 Frightfur card from my Deck to my hand!"
It was obvious what she would add.
"I add another Frightfur Fusion to my hand!"
Last turn, she had used up two Fusion Spells in quick succession. This new one was exactly what she needed.
Morgan could clearly see that Yaoyao was preparing for another Fusion Summon. Against Frightfur Fusions, Shizuku's 1500 Attack was hardly enough, but Morgan wasn't worried. If Shizuku was destroyed, Raye's effect would bring her back, and from there, Morgan could Link Summon into another Sky Striker Ace.
That was why she didn't fear Yaoyao's Fusions.
From the stands, Hannah also began to anticipate Yaoyao's next move. Though her boss often recruited oddballs, their dueling skill was undeniable—otherwise, they wouldn't have made it into the Senior Division.
What worried Hannah more was Morgan. With just one monster and no backrow, did she still have something hidden in her hand or Graveyard?
Hannah sighed. Morgan's plays always defied expectations. No one thought she could OTK Professor Mayn with this Deck, but Morgan had executed all the Sky Striker prerequisites perfectly: filling the Graveyard, performing Links without flaw. It wasn't just her Deck-building—it was her uncanny ability to pilot any Deck to its full potential that made her dangerous.
Her phone buzzed again. Hazel had already dug up the full list she needed, photos and all. Finally, Hannah could take some initiative.
Meanwhile, the two D-Wheels roared down the track. Yaoyao frowned—this was the key moment in her chain.
"I activate the Spell Card, Frightfur Fusion, from my hand!"
"I banish Edge Imp Chain and Fluffal Dog from my Graveyard as Fusion Materials!"
"Fusion Summon! Frightfur Cruel Whale!"
A swirling vortex appeared, consuming her Graveyard resources. From it emerged her ace monster—a massive purple killer whale plush, bristling with blades, its serrated jaws and icy eyes radiating menace. A grotesque hybrid of Fluffal and Edge Imp.
[Frightfur Cruel Whale] Level 9│DARK│Fiend│2600 ATK / 2400 DEF
The crowd gasped. In both numbers and power, Yaoyao now held the advantage. Morgan had only one monster with 1500 Attack and no backrow at all.
Could even she come back from this?
Spectators remembered Morgan's prior Duels—her comebacks always hinged on clever backrow. This time, with no protection, Yaoyao might actually hand Morgan her first loss.
"Incredible! Even Morgan is being overwhelmed! Who is this Yaoyao girl?"
"The undefeated Platinum-ranked Morgan, finally facing defeat—it almost feels comforting, like the gap between us and a genius isn't that big."
"Not that big? You mean the gap of a whole universe, right? Morgan hasn't lost yet. Until her LP hit zero, anything's possible."
"Exactly! I've lost so many confession Duels already—if Morgan falls to a cute freshman, I can't accept it!"
Jade's heart pounded harder than the racing D-Wheels. Though she knew Morgan would eventually lose someday, now that it seemed imminent, she couldn't bear it. She hoped that day would never come.
"Isla, will Morgan really lose?"
Rowe also looked worried. She had seen Morgan win countless times, but couldn't even imagine her losing.
Isla frowned. "I'm not sure. But no matter what, Morgan will take damage this turn."
No one had expected Morgan to be pushed this far by an unknown freshman. The possibility of defeat loomed.
Of course, Morgan herself ignored the murmurs of the crowd. She cared only for the Duel in front of her.
As soon as Whale appeared, its effect triggered.
"I activate Frightfur Cruel Whale's effect!"
"When Fusion Summoned, I can destroy 1 card I control and 1 card you control."
"I destroy my Toy Vendor and your Sky Striker Ace - Shizuku!"
The two cards shattered instantly. Morgan's field was now empty, while Yaoyao's Toy Vendor activated its own effect.
"I activate Toy Vendor's effect!"
"If this card is sent to the Graveyard, I can add 1 Edge Imp Sabres or 1 Fluffal monster from my Deck to my hand!"
"I add Fluffal Bear!"
Hannah arched a brow. Unlike most reckless Frightfur players, Yaoyao played cautiously. Fluffal Bear could fetch another Toy Vendor, keeping her resources flowing.
Still, with Shizuku destroyed, Raye's Graveyard effect triggered.
"I activate Sky Striker Ace - Raye's effect from the Graveyard!"
"If a Sky Striker Link Monster I control leaves the field by an opponent's effect or battle, I can Special Summon Raye!"
The determined white-haired girl appeared once more, only to immediately Tribute herself.
"I Special Summon from the Extra Deck—Sky Striker Ace - Kaina!"
Kaina's mecha resembled a giant crane, her four claws glowing with earthen light.
[Sky Striker Ace - Kaina] Link-1│Earth│Warrior│1500 ATK
"I activate Kaina's effect!"
"When Special Summoned, I target 1 opponent's monster—it cannot attack this turn!"
"I target your Frightfur Cruel Whale!"
Yaoyao froze. Her all-out offensive had been blunted. Morgan wasn't defenseless after all.
But so what? Surviving one turn meant nothing. Morgan had only one monster left, and Frightfurs could still push through. Whale couldn't attack, but it still had effects.
"I activate Frightfur Cruel Whale's effect!"
"By sending Frightfur Daredevil from my Extra Deck to the Graveyard, Sabre-Tooth gains ATK equal to its ATK—3000!"
Sabre-Tooth's ATK soared to 5400.
Yaoyao raised her voice. "Battle! Frightfur Kraken attacks Sky Striker Ace - Kaina!"
The scythe-armed tentacles lashed out, destroying Kaina. Morgan's Life Points dropped by 700.
[Morgan, LP: 4000 → 3300]
That was just a scratch. The real blow was coming.
"Frightfur Sabre-Tooth Tiger, direct attack!"
BOOM—!
The savage strike slammed into Morgan, her LP plummeting fast.
[Morgan, LP: 3300 → 1900]
Her D-Wheel wobbled under the impact, falling behind Yaoyao's.
The crowd gasped. Could Morgan really lose?
Yet despite the massive damage, Yaoyao frowned. Even with Morgan down to 1900 LP, she didn't feel victorious. Instead, an ominous sense of an approaching storm lingered.
"I end my turn."
She looked over her monsters and backrow, inhaled deeply, and told herself:
'It should be fine!'
Despite that, Morgan, now trailing, only smiled. It had been a long time since she'd enjoyed a Duel this much. Racing at high speeds while dueling—this was true exhilaration.
She had fallen behind, but that didn't mean she had lost.
"My turn! Draw!"
...
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