An Altergeist spirit with a mechanical body appeared on the field. Its structure resembled a Harpie Lady, arms joined to feminine appendages, legs human-like but ending in birdlike talons. From its face glimmered an eerie red light.
[Altergeist Silquitous] Level 2│DARK│Spellcaster│800 ATK / 1500 DEF
This card was the key to the Altergeist combo—Shia's entire purpose in her setup. It could return one card on the opponent's field to the hand. Morgan had already used her Normal Summon, so if Shizuku were bounced, she would be left with nothing.
With two monsters ready for the next turn, Shia could Link Summon and deal direct damage to Morgan.
Thinking this, Shia smiled and declared:
"I activate the effect of Altergeist Silquitous!"
"By returning one other Altergeist card I control to the hand, I can target one card on your field and return it to your hand."
"I return Altergeist Multifaker and send Sky Striker Ace - Shizuku back to your Extra Deck!"
Both monsters dissolved into streams of light, but Morgan's Link Monster returned to the Extra Deck instead of her hand.
Seeing this, Zack muttered to himself. The Battle Phase had already passed, and Morgan's Normal Summon was gone. Unless she had other means, she'd be wide open next turn—an easy target for a potential OTK. Altergeists were more than capable of that.
But Morgan did not panic. Shizuku leaving the field let her trigger Raye's effect in the Graveyard. When a Sky Striker monster left the field or was destroyed, Raye could Special Summon herself back.
"I activate the effect of Sky Striker Ace - Raye in my Graveyard!"
"Since my Sky Striker Link Monster left the field by your effect, I Special Summon Raye!"
Raye once again returned to the field, Morgan's lone defense.
Zack sighed with relief. Of course Morgan wouldn't be left unguarded. She seemed unwilling to Link Summon further, though.
Shia frowned. Her usual combo had been thwarted, but a 1500 Attack monster posed little threat.
"I Set one card and end my turn."
Morgan had placed Infinite Impermanence directly opposite Shia's Set, ready to negate the moment Shia tried to activate it. Shia didn't notice and impatiently let the turn pass.
"My turn, draw!"
The moment Morgan ended her turn, Shia drew, determined to pay her damage back double.
The card was another Silquitous.
After a pause, she decided to risk greed—activating another face-down Pot of Extravagance to draw two cards, aiming to build the biggest Altergeist field possible. But Morgan had been waiting for this exact play.
"I flip my face-down, Pot of Extravagance!"
"I banish six cards from my Extra Deck to draw two cards!"
Another Pot? Morgan blinked in surprise. She hadn't expected Shia to still have one Set. The same scene was about to repeat.
Shia confidently banished six face-down cards, preparing to draw, when Morgan revealed her trap.
"I activate Infinite Impermanence!"
"I negate the effect of Altergeist Silquitous on your field, and the activation of Pot of Extravagance!"
'Again?!'
Shia was stunned. A second Pot cut off the same way, her Extra Deck already down twelve cards, and no draws gained. Her chain fell apart—a massive loss.
Laughter rippled through the crowd. Both of Shia's Pots had been stopped by Morgan, leaving her nearly empty-handed.
"What are the odds? Two Pots shut down in a row."
"Morgan probably didn't even expect that Set to be another Pot."
"But with so many Extra Deck cards banished, what's Shia going to do now?"
"Who knows? Maybe she still has a win condition."
Grinding her teeth, Shia refused to give up. She immediately put her Continuous Trap.
"I activate Personal Spoofing!"
"By returning Altergeist Silquitous from my field to the Deck, I add Altergeist Marionetter to my hand!"
Marionetter was one of the Altergeist core pieces, fetching archetype Spell/Trap cards and swapping monsters between field and Graveyard to trigger effects.
If she couldn't draw, she'd search.
"I Normal Summon Altergeist Marionetter in Attack Position!"
A green AI entity appeared, its head similar to Silquitous's, but its lower half was now a saucer-like disc spinning like a DJ's turntable.
[Altergeist Marionetter] Level 4│DARK│Spellcaster│1600 ATK / 1700 DEF
"I activate its effect! When summoned, I can Set one Altergeist Trap directly from my Deck!"
"I Set Altergeist Protocol!"
This Continuous Trap not only ensured her Altergeist monsters' effects couldn't be negated, but also let her send an Altergeist from field to Graveyard to negate and destroy an opponent's monster effect. A powerful shield.
Now with two Continuous Traps on her field, Shia thought herself safe. Morgan, however, held Harpie's Feather Duster in her hand. No matter how many cards Shia set, Morgan could wipe them all. For now, though, she waited—two wasn't enough to waste it.
Unaware, Shia entered her Battle Phase, her frustration from two broken Pots fueling her attack.
"Battle! Altergeist Marionetter attacks Sky Striker Ace - Raye!"
But Morgan would not let Raye be destroyed—Raye's true strength was her ability to escape into a Link Monster.
"At this moment, I activate Sky Striker Ace - Raye's effect!"
"I Tribute her to Special Summon Sky Striker Ace - Kaina from my Extra Deck!"
A girl in heavy ochre armor materialized, and Marionetter's target vanished. Shia prepared to strike Kaina instead, but Morgan stopped her.
"I activate Kaina's effect! When Special Summoned, I target one face-up monster you control. That monster cannot attack until the end of the turn!"
Marionetter froze mid-charge, its attack halted.
Clicking her tongue, Shia reluctantly Set two more cards and ended.
"I Set two cards and end my turn!"
Morgan's eyes narrowed. Shia's back row was building up, and she had no idea what was hidden there. Harpie's Feather Duster couldn't be wasted if it might be negated by something like Infinite Impermanence. And Altergeist Protocol was particularly dangerous for Sky Strikers.
Zack sighed wryly. Four traps on Shia's field were intimidating.
But he didn't know Morgan's history. In the past, Morgan's back row was never empty—she often kept all five zones filled. Compared to that, Shia's setup was child's play.
After a moment's thought, Morgan drew her next card.
"My turn, draw!"
She glanced at it and smiled. It was the card to break this stalemate: Sky Striker Mecha Modules - Multirole.
This card made her Spells immune to Shia's effects—including Harpie's Feather Duster.
"I activate the Continuous Spell, Sky Striker Mecha Modules - Multirole!"
...
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