After activating Upstart Goblin, Morgan's Graveyard now held three Spells. This meant Engage could not only search a Sky Striker card but also draw an additional card—its maximum potential. With Widow Anchor already in hand, all Morgan needed was to ensure her Spell activations went uninterrupted.
She chose to fetch another Multirole.
"I add Sky Striker Mecha Modules - Multirole from my Deck to my hand!"
"Since I have three or more Spells in the Graveyard, I also draw one card!"
The card brought a smile to her face—it was Infinite Impermanence. With this, her chain became far safer.
Shia tensed again. Even after losing two cards earlier, Morgan had stabilized off a single draw. And judging by Morgan's expression, whatever she drew was dangerous. Shia would need to time her Silquitous perfectly, or she risked severe losses.
Morgan pressed forward.
"I activate the Continuous Spell from my hand, Sky Striker Mecha Modules - Multirole!"
Then she moved into her next Link. Shizuku had served her purpose; now Hayate's direct attack was needed to chip away at Shia's Life Points.
"I use Sky Striker Ace - Shizuku to set the Link Circuit!"
"Link Summon! Sky Striker Ace - Hayate!"
Seeing Hayate once again hit the field, Shia smiled knowingly. The card she had searched earlier was prepared for this exact situation—ready to nullify Multirole and stop Morgan's attack.
Zack, watching, recognized it too. If Morgan rushed into a direct attack, the backlash would be heavy. If it were him, he'd play safe and restrict Special Summons instead. However, this was Morgan's choice to make.
With only Widow Anchor and Infinite Impermanence left, Morgan had no choice except to push forward.
"Battle! Sky Striker Ace - Hayate attacks directly!"
A green energy round fired—but this time, it struck an invisible wall.
Zack sighed. Morgan's aggression had backfired.
Shia chuckled lightly.
"I activate Altergeist Kunquery from my hand!"
"When an Altergeist card is on my field, and you declare an attack, I can Special Summon this card and negate that attack!"
An android centaur manifested, armored in a mechanical sheen.
[Altergeist Kunquery] Level 5│DARK│Spellcaster│0 ATK / 2400 DEF
The moment it appeared, Hayate's attack ceased. With only Hayate on her field, Morgan's Battle Phase ended. Her offense had failed; albeit she still had one ace: Widow Anchor.
"I end the Battle Phase and use Hayate to set the Link Circuit!"
"Link Summon! Sky Striker Ace - Shizuku!"
Shizuku returned to the field. It was Morgan's second copy—only one remained in her Extra Deck. Sky Strikers burned through resources quickly; meanwhile, Altergeists recycled endlessly.
Spotting her chance, Shia flipped a Trap.
"I activate the face-down Altergeist Manifestation!"
"I target one Altergeist in my Graveyard, Special Summon it in Attack Position, then equip this card to it."
From her Graveyard, Meluseek emerged once more. Though its ATK was reduced to 0 by Shizuku's effect, and thus unable to deal damage, its Special Summon triggered Multifaker in her hand. With more bodies, Shia's confidence rose.
"I Special Summon Altergeist Meluseek from my Graveyard!"
"Then, since a Trap was activated, I Special Summon Altergeist Multifaker from my hand!"
Monsters swarmed Shia's field, leaving the crowd in awe. Even in a desperate situation, she chained plays into a near reversal. With a Link-2 already in play, she could easily climb into a Link-3 next turn.
Her eyes sharpened.
"I activate Altergeist Multifaker's effect!"
"I Special Summon Altergeist Marionetter from my Deck!"
Her zones were full, yet she remained wary. The real goal was clear: break Morgan's Shizuku to cut off her resource loop.
"I activate Altergeist Silquitous's effect!"
"I return Manifestation to my hand to send your Sky Striker Ace - Shizuku back to your Extra Deck!"
As Manifestation returned to hand, Meluseek was destroyed as a result.
Even so, Morgan wasn't done. Widow Anchor was ready.
"At this moment, I activate Sky Striker Mecha - Widow Anchor!"
"If I control no Main Monster Zone monsters, I can target one Effect Monster you control; its effects are negated until the end of the turn."
"I negate your Altergeist Silquitous's effect!"
Her voice rose.
"And since I have three or more Spells in the Graveyard, I take control of it!"
A mechanical anchor shot forth, latching onto Silquitous and yanking it to Morgan's side. Its effect nullified, its loyalty stolen.
Zack's eyes widened. Morgan had turned the tables yet again. With Silquitous under her control, she could climb into Zeke and banish Kunquery.
Shia grit her teeth as Meluseek's Graveyard effect resolved.
"I add Altergeist Marionetter from my Deck to my hand."
But her momentum was broken.
Morgan wasted no time.
"I use Silquitous and Shizuku to set the Link Circuit!"
"Link Summon! Sky Striker Ace - Zeke!"
Zeke materialized once more. Its target was obvious.
"I activate Zeke's effect!"
"I banish your Altergeist Kunquery until the End Phase of your next turn!"
...
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