Mirrorjade's effect activated again, and the freshly summoned Tenyi Spirit - Shthana was pierced through by its ice blades. Morgan's field was left empty once more. Yet she didn't panic—instead, she smiled. With Mirrorjade's effect already spent, Chelsea had no way to stop Taia now.
Seeing that smile, Chelsea suddenly realized something was wrong. But it was too late. She had already exhausted her resources and could no longer shut Morgan down.
"I Normal Summon Swordsoul of Taia in Attack Position!"
A warrior in silver armor appeared on the field. Chelsea's eyes widened. So this was Morgan's true play—the two Tenyi Spirits had merely been bait to force out her interruptions. Realizing she'd been tricked, Chelsea scowled with frustration. She couldn't blame anyone but herself; she had fallen for it because her skill wasn't enough.
"I activate the effect of Swordsoul of Taia!"
"Banish Tenyi Spirit – Vishuda from my Graveyard to Special Summon a Swordsoul Token [Wyrm/Tuner/WATER/Level 4/ATK 0/DEF 0] in Attack Position!"
It was obvious what came next: Morgan's Synchro combo.
"I tune Swordsoul of Taia and the Swordsoul Token!"
"Synchro Summon! Swordsoul Grandmaster - Chixiao!"
Now that Chelsea's Branded deck had no means of interruption left, Morgan could safely bring out Chixiao. To be thorough, she also prepared to chain Taia's Graveyard effect.
Seeing this, Isla finally let out a breath of relief. Chelsea was strong; anyhow, Morgan was stronger still. Even after Chelsea had thrown everything at her, Morgan had Synchro Summoned Chixiao. It was clear—Morgan's experience surpassed hers.
"By the effect of Swordsoul of Taia!"
"When this card is sent to the Graveyard as Synchro Material, send 1 Swordsoul card or Wyrm monster from your Deck to the Graveyard."
"I send Tenyi Spirit – Ashuna to the Graveyard!"
With the card sent, Chixiao's effect activated.
"By the effect of Swordsoul Grandmaster - Chixiao!"
"Add 1 Swordsoul card from my Deck to my hand!"
She added the Spell Card Swordsoul Emergence. Sending Ashuna had a purpose—she was setting up three differently attributed Tenyi monsters in the Graveyard. Swordsoul alone couldn't break Chelsea's field, but there was one key card in her deck that could, and Swordsoul Emergence could fetch it.
Chelsea glanced coldly at Morgan. So all that for a Synchro monster with only 2800 Attack? To her, this was Morgan's last desperate move, dragging things out until her next turn.
However, Chelsea had no intention of giving her that chance. She planned to end it on her own next turn.
Abruptly, as her lips curled in a smirk, she saw Morgan play the card she had just searched.
"I activate the Spell Card, Swordsoul Emergence!"
"Add 1 Swordsoul monster from my Deck to my hand. Since I control a Synchro Monster, I can instead add 1 Wyrm monster!"
"I add Archnemeses Protos to my hand!"
This was Morgan's trump card. And because Archnemeses Protos was a Wyrm, she could be searched by Swordsoul Emergence. From the start, everything had gone just as Morgan predicted—she could anticipate Chelsea's moves, while Chelsea was unfamiliar with Morgan's deck and didn't know where to cut her plays.
That difference in deck knowledge made all the difference.
And the Tenyi monsters in the Graveyard were precisely the material required for summoning Archnemeses Protos.
When Chelsea heard the card's name, her face darkened. She had heard of it—a monster with a powerful board-clearing effect. Rarely used due to its strict conditions, but if Morgan had included it, it was surely intentional.
While Chelsea hesitated, Morgan activated her hand's monster.
"I activate Archnemeses Protos's effect from my hand!"
"Banish three differently attributed Tenyi monsters from my Graveyard to Special Summon this card!"
Three dragons vanished from her Graveyard, and a colossal dragon, like a storm cloud, descended amidst thunder. Its long body coiled upward, its scales glimmering with three different attributes.
[Archnemeses Protos] Level 11│Wyrm│2500 ATK / 3000 DEF
The spectators were stunned. None had expected Morgan to summon such a rare monster under these conditions. Every duel she fought had been as fierce as a tournament match, and even after three consecutive duels, she never faltered, always finding her path to victory.
"As expected of Morgan—she even brought out the legendary Archnemeses Protos."
"I've hardly ever seen that card on the field before."
"Wyrm decks are rare, and few can actually make use of it."
"However, to summon it in this situation—this deserves to be recorded in Duel Academy's history."
Morgan smiled as she activated Archnemeses Protos's effect. Both Mirrorjade and Guardian Chimera were DARK monsters—perfect for a full wipe.
"I activate Archnemeses Protos's effect!"
"Declare one Attribute. Destroy all monsters on the field of that Attribute, and until the end of the next turn, neither player can Special Summon monsters of that Attribute!"
"My declaration is—DARK!"
Archnemeses Protos roared, and a blast of darkness swept across the field, destroying Chelsea's two DARK monsters instantly.
Chelsea raised her Duel Disk to shield against the shockwave, glaring at Morgan's field.
Through the smoke strode Chixiao, blade in hand, as Morgan declared battle.
"Battle! Swordsoul Grandmaster - Chixiao, direct attack!"
The blazing sword struck Chelsea, slashing away 2800 of her Life Points. Morgan didn't overextend—Archnemeses Protos had been summoned in Defense Position and couldn't attack.
With Life Points now even, Chelsea's expression darkened.
Regardless, this wasn't over—her hand was still full, and her Graveyard was stocked with resources for more Fusion Summons.
"My turn ends."
At Morgan's End Phase, Chelsea activated Albion the Shrouded Dragon's effect.
"I activate Albion the Shrouded Dragon's effect in the Graveyard!"
"During the End Phase of the turn it was sent there, add one Branded Spell/Trap from my Deck to my hand, or Set it directly."
"I add Branded Fusion to my hand!"
Of course—Branded Fusion.
Morgan nodded. Without Branded in Red, that was indeed Chelsea's best option.
"My turn, draw!"
Chelsea ripped her next card. She still had Frightfur Patchwork in hand, which could fetch another Polymerization. With two Fusion Spells ready, she could fuse freely.
"I activate the Spell Card, Frightfur Patchwork!"
"Add one Edge Imp Chain and one Polymerization from my Deck to my hand!"
With DARK monsters locked, Morgan expected her to fuse for Lubellion the Searing Dragon next, then use it to summon a LIGHT Despia Fusion. Albeit with only Chixiao on the field, Morgan knew Chelsea could remove at least one monster. Her priority was protecting Archnemeses Protos.
"I Normal Summon Aluber the Jester of Despia in Attack Position!"
"When this card is Normal or Special Summoned: Add one Branded Spell/Trap from your Deck to your hand!"
But with DARK monsters still locked down, Morgan wasn't about to let Chelsea extend further. Even if she stopped Lubellion, Fusion Summons would continue. Better to cut her off here.
"At this moment, I activate Swordsoul Grandmaster - Chixiao's effect!"
"Banish Swordsoul Blackout from my Graveyard!"
"Negate Aluber's effect!"
With Aluber's search negated, Chelsea immediately slammed down Branded Fusion.
"I activate the Spell Card, Branded Fusion!"
"Send Fallen of Albaz and Dramaturge of Despia from my Deck to the Graveyard as Fusion Material!"
"Fusion Summon! Lubellion the Searing Dragon!"
...
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