"I add Sky Striker Mecha - Hornet Drones from my Deck!"
Morgan's intent was clear—she was preparing for a Link-2 summon. Relying only on Link-1 monsters wouldn't be enough to deal real damage. By next turn, Shia would recover, and a slow burn strategy wouldn't work anymore.
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Sky Striker Mecha - Hornet Drones!"
"I can activate this if I control no monsters in my Main Monster Zones."
"I Special Summon 1 Sky Striker Ace Token (Warrior / DARK / Level 1 / ATK 0 / DEF 0) in Defense Position."
A yellow, bee-like drone appeared on the field—the key piece Morgan needed to Link Summon a Link-2 monster. After all, Sky Striker Spells required empty Main Monster Zones, which was why the Deck rarely ran non-archetypal low-level monsters—except hand traps like Effect Veiler.
She immediately began her Link Summon.
"I use Sky Striker Ace - Kagari and my Token to set the Link Circuit!"
"Link Summon! Sky Striker Ace - Zeke!"
The two monsters turned into crimson streams of light, converging into the armored form of Zeke. Though only a Link-2, Zeke exuded pressure.
Morgan's target was Shia's Silquitous. Earlier, only Multirole's effect had kept Shia's chain from succeeding. Leaving Silquitous on the field was dangerous. Zeke's effect would banish an opponent's monster until the next turn's End Phase—ensuring Silquitous couldn't bounce her monsters.
And since it banished instead of returning, Multifaker's follow-ups would also falter.
"I activate Sky Striker Ace - Zeke's effect!"
"When Link Summoned, I target one face-up monster on the field and banish it until your next End Phase!"
Morgan pointed directly at Shia's Silquitous.
"I banish your Altergeist Silquitous!"
The fairy twisted and vanished. Shia's expression tightened. She understood Morgan's reasoning—if she had been in Morgan's place, she would have done the same. Still, it left her field crippled, her efforts erased.
Yet, Morgan wasn't finished. She needed to recycle resources before ending her turn.
"I use Sky Striker Ace - Zeke to set the Link Circuit once more!"
"Link Summon! Sky Striker Ace - Shizuku!"
Every Sky Striker served a role, and Shizuku was perfect for the End Phase, fetching a Sky Striker Spell from the Deck. With Engage already in the Graveyard, Morgan could set it with Multirole, then search another with Shizuku.
"At the End Phase, I activate Sky Striker Mecha Modules - Multirole!"
"I Set Sky Striker Mobilize - Engage from my Graveyard!"
Shizuku glowed blue as Morgan continued:
"I then activate Shizuku's effect! At the End Phase of the turn this card is Special Summoned, I can add one Sky Striker Spell with a name not already in my Graveyard to my hand."
"I add another Sky Striker Mobilize - Engage!"
Two Engages in hand at once—Shia's face fell. She knew how vital Engage was for resource advantage. With two copies, Morgan could search almost anything, massively increasing her options.
"My turn ends."
Zack nodded in satisfaction. Morgan had applied heavy pressure—Shia was in danger of collapse if she couldn't respond. However, Shia was still a pro duelist; she wouldn't give up easily.
"My turn, draw!"
She quickly drew and her expression eased. It was an Altergeist monster, and just in time.
"I Normal Summon Altergeist Meluseek in Attack Position!"
A purple AI mermaid appeared, its screen face flickering with a sinister smile.
[Altergeist Meluseek] Level 1│DARK│Spellcaster│500 ATK / 300 DEF
Morgan's eyes narrowed. Meluseek was one of the nastiest Altergeists—it could attack directly, and whenever it inflicted battle damage, it could send one opponent's card to the Graveyard.
Summoning it now, Shia clearly intended to send either Multirole or Engage to the Graveyard.
Morgan knew it; even so, she had no way to stop it. Her only tool left was Engage, already in hand.
Shia smirked.
"You're not the only one with monsters that can attack directly."
"Battle! Altergeist Meluseek attacks directly!"
Morgan's Life Points dropped, though it was only 300 damage thanks to Shizuku lowering its ATK.
Shia didn't care about the damage. She immediately followed up:
"I activate Altergeist Meluseek's effect!"
"When this card inflicts battle damage, I target one card on your field and send it to the Graveyard!"
"I send your Set Sky Striker Mobilize - Engage to the Graveyard!"
Morgan's face-down was flipped and vanished.
Exactly as expected, Morgan thought grimly. If Shia removed Engage first, she surely had a plan for Multirole next.
And indeed, Shia advanced into Main Phase 2 and began another Link Summon.
"I use Altergeist Meluseek and Altergeist Marionetter to set the Link Circuit!"
"Link Summon! Knightmare Phoenix!"
A blazing red phoenix spread its wings on the field. Morgan recognized it well—part of the same series as Knightmare Unicorn. A powerful generic Link Monster.
Knightmare Phoenix's effect would destroy a Spell or Trap upon Link Summon.
"I activate Knightmare Phoenix's effect!"
"When Link Summoned, I discard one card to target one Spell/Trap on your field and destroy it!"
"I destroy your Sky Striker Mecha Modules - Multirole!"
Morgan's Continuous Spell shattered. She wasn't worried—Battle Phase was over, and Shia had no more paths to deal damage.
Despite that, Shia wasn't done.
"I activate Altergeist Meluseek's effect!"
"When sent from the field to the Graveyard, I add one Altergeist monster from my Deck to my hand, except Meluseek!"
"I add Altergeist Kunquery!"
Zack nodded. Kunquery was perfect insurance—it could negate an attack by Special Summoning itself. Shia wouldn't allow another direct hit.
"I Set one card and end my turn!"
At the End Phase, Silquitous returned to Shia's field from its banishment, restoring some of her defense.
"My turn, draw!"
Morgan drew sharply—it was Upstart Goblin. Giving her opponent 1000 Life Points was nothing compared to drawing deeper.
"I activate Upstart Goblin! I draw one card, then you gain 1000 Life Points!"
Shia's Life Points rose, but Morgan smiled at her draw—it was Widow Anchor.
"I activate the Quick-Play Spell, Sky Striker Mobilize - Engage!"
...
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