"By banishing 1 'Swordsoul' card or 1 Wyrm monster from your hand or Graveyard: target 1 Effect Monster on the field, except this card; negate its effects until the end of this turn. This is a Quick Effect."
"I banish [Monk of the Tenyi] from my Graveyard—negate the effect of your [Tri-Brigade Kitt]!"
Zack's eyes gleamed. So that was Chixiao's ability. Luckily, he had probed with Kitt first. If it had been a key moment, the interruption would've been painful. But now, it meant he was free to extend.
No traps to fear.
Kitt turned gray, her effect nullified.
Anyhow, Zack had paid a price—banishing four monsters. Still, among them was [Tri-Brigade Mercourier], whose effect let him search when banished. Another starter.
Milo sighed. He couldn't fault Morgan—he too would've fired Chixiao's effect rather than risk a Link-4 boss hitting the field. Albeit now that she'd used it, the threat was gone. It was Zack's showtime.
Isla frowned. She had sensed Zack was baiting out Chixiao's effect, and now it was confirmed. Truly a pro—his experience forced Morgan to act.
On the flip side, Isla didn't think Morgan would lose yet. She still had two strong monsters and an unknown Set.
Zack smiled. His plan had worked. Now came the performance.
"I activate the effect of [Tri-Brigade Mercourier] that was banished!"
"When this card is banished: Add 1 'Fallen of Albaz' or a monster that mentions it from your Deck to your hand."
Morgan was surprised, then understood. The archetypes shared lore, so their effects tied together. If Tri-Brigade existed here, could Branded be as well? A Fusion engine that fit anywhere.
"I add [Albion the Shrouded Dragon] to my hand!"
Morgan immediately realized his plan. Albion had two effects: Special Summon itself, or shuffle back into the Deck to draw.
Now, Special Summoning it was meaningless. He'd surely draw instead, refreshing his hand.
As she expected, Zack chose the draw.
"I activate [Albion the Shrouded Dragon]'s effect!"
"Return this card to the bottom of the Deck; if you do, draw 1 card. If sent from hand, also send 1 Branded Spell/Trap from Deck to Graveyard."
He drew, smiling. It was another card he had copied from Morgan's builds. He ran three of them.
He had drawn [Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring].
It was clear Zack had absorbed Morgan's philosophy: if there's space in the Deck, max out the hand traps.
To use Albion's effect, he had also sent a card from the Deck—the Trap [Branded Sword]. He milled it precisely to recover Mercourier, setting up his next plays.
"I activate the effect of [Branded Sword] in the Graveyard!"
"Banish it; add 1 of your banished 'Fallen of Albaz' or monsters that mention it to your hand."
"I return [Tri-Brigade Mercourier] to my hand!"
Now his hand was four cards strong. Enough to fuel another combo, even if not lethal.
Next came Kitt's Link.
"I use [Tri-Brigade Kitt] to set the Link circuit!"
"Link Summon! [Salamangreat Almiraj]!"
Kitt turned into light, replaced by a small mechanical rabbit with a flaming horn.
[Salamangreat Almiraj] Link-1│Cyberse│0 ATK
A key utility Link, often splashed. Its effect—tribute itself to protect a monster from destruction by effects—was perfect insurance against Morgan's backrow.
Meanwhile, Kitt's effect sent to Graveyard triggered.
"I activate [Tri-Brigade Kitt]'s effect!"
"When sent to the Graveyard: send 1 'Tri-Brigade' card from your Deck to the Graveyard."
"I send [Tri-Brigade Nervall] to the Graveyard!"
And Nervall would add Kerass from the Deck. Zack's Normal Summon was gone, yet Kerass's Special Summon ability let him keep extending.
Morgan stayed calm. She still had her Set. And who said her Extra Deck was out of surprises?
"I discard [Tri-Brigade Mercourier] to Special Summon [Tri-Brigade Kerass]!"
Kerass appeared, hefting his massive firearm. Zack wasted no time.
"I banish four monsters from my Graveyard!"
"Link Summon! [Tri-Brigade Shuraig the Ominous Omen]!"
Shuraig descended once again. On Special Summon, it banished a card. Its target was obvious—Chixiao.
"I activate the effect of [Tri-Brigade Shuraig the Ominous Omen]!"
"When this card is Special Summoned: banish 1 card on the field."
The spectators gasped. The first Shuraig had been wiped by Nibiru before they saw this. Now they finally understood—it could banish anything.
And the prime target was Chixiao.
Milo nodded. Zack's composure and clean sequencing set him apart. Many pros would've panicked by now, but not him.
Morgan hesitated. Besides Chixiao, she still had Nibiru with 3000 ATK. Milo suspected it wasn't easily extendable. Saving Chixiao was the best move.
"At this moment, I activate my Trap—[Swordsoul Blackout]!"
"Target 1 Wyrm monster I control and 2 cards you control; destroy them!"
Better to destroy than let it be banished. Chixiao had to live.
Even so, she knew Shuraig wouldn't fall—Almiraj could protect it. Still, she could take the rest.
As predicted, Zack used Almiraj.
"I activate [Salamangreat Almiraj]'s effect!"
"Tribute this card; this turn, [Tri-Brigade Shuraig] cannot be destroyed by card effects!"
Almiraj vanished, but Shuraig remained. Blackout destroyed Chixiao and Zack's other two cards. Shuraig's effect could only banish Nibiru.
In a flash, the exchange resolved—leaving Morgan's field empty, and Zack's with only Shuraig.
Albeit that was all he needed. He declared battle.
"Battle! [Tri-Brigade Shuraig the Ominous Omen], direct attack!"
...
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