Shia's mechanical centaur vanished from the field. Its lock effect only functioned while face-up, so once it was gone, Morgan's Multirole was completely free. That was exactly her plan—she could now recycle resources and calmly end her turn.
"At the End Phase, I activate Sky Striker Mecha Modules - Multirole!"
"I Set Sky Striker Mecha - Widow Anchor from my Graveyard!"
As Morgan placed the card back on her field, Shia grew uneasy. Silquitous had been stolen by that very card earlier; it was more than enough to keep her on edge. Still, thanks to that exchange, she had recycled a Trap, giving her decent resources. Now it all depended on her next draw.
"My turn ends."
The audience finally exhaled. The back-and-forth had been so intense that they'd barely dared to breathe. Morgan held a slight edge now; however, the duel was still unpredictable. Shia could still mount a comeback depending on her Extra Deck.
For Morgan, the threats were Shia's unknown Set card and the looming danger of another Widow Anchor. So long as she respected those, Shia still had a chance.
Meanwhile, far away on a cliff above the harbor, a burly figure watched the duel through binoculars—Zelo, newly arrived on the island. Nearby, Akiyama was flirting with a woman in the forest, uninterested in the duel.
"Not easy. That Morgan's tougher than I thought," Zelo muttered, rubbing his eyes.
"Tch, you should've listened to me. Forget dueling—use my charm instead. So what if she's strong? She's still a woman. Every woman has weak points. I'll finish her with one strike," Akiyama boasted. Years of womanizing had given him a silver tongue, and he'd swayed many female duelists before.
Zelo glanced at him. "Don't say I didn't warn you. Plenty have tried to chase her, but she's still single. Why? Because she doesn't fall for smooth talk. Win or lose, it's decided in a duel. You can run your mouth all you want; regardless, the duel still decides."
"Then I'll duel her. I'm not scared," Akiyama scoffed. His Time Lord Deck had once swept Team Haisen 3–0, a feat even Zelo couldn't deny. Although both of them had bigger tasks now—defeating pro duelists and teachers on the list to quickly take control of the academy. Neither had time to deal with Morgan directly.
Still, Zelo knew taking her down wouldn't be easy.
Back at the duel, Shia began her turn.
"My turn, draw!"
Her face fell—it was another Pot of Extravagance. Albeit with her Extra Deck already depleted, she couldn't use it.
She swiftly made a decision.
"I Normal Summon Altergeist Marionetter in Attack Position!"
"When this card is Summoned, I Set one Altergeist Trap from my Deck!"
Abruptly, Morgan immediately flipped her Set.
"Not so fast! I activate Infinite Impermanence!"
Once again, the shadowy wall of negation swallowed Shia's play. Marionetter's effect was lost. With nothing else, she shifted all her monsters into Attack Position, aiming straight for Zeke. At the same time, her other Marionetter's effect activated, swapping a field Altergeist with one in the Graveyard.
"I activate Altergeist Marionetter's effect!"
"I target one Altergeist I control and one in my Graveyard. I send the field target to the Graveyard and Special Summon the Graveyard target!"
Her choice was to trade her Marionetter for Meluseek, hoping to attack Morgan directly. Without Shizuku lowering its ATK, Meluseek could strike for damage and send a card to the Graveyard.
Nevertheless, Morgan had already anticipated it. She immediately activated Widow Anchor.
"Now, I activate Sky Striker Mecha - Widow Anchor!"
"I negate Altergeist Marionetter's effect, and I take control of it!"
Two negates in a row had eaten into Morgan's resources, but Shia's momentum was stalled.
She consoled herself: Kunquery would return next turn, and control of Marionetter would revert as well. Morgan only had Zeke left. She couldn't possibly win with a single monster.
Shia steadied herself and Set two Traps.
"I Set two cards and end my turn."
Her only card in hand was another dead Pot. Frustration burned—had she not burned through two Pots earlier, her Extra Deck wouldn't be so crippled. Once this duel ended, she swore she'd cut the cursed card.
At the End Phase, Morgan used Multirole to Set Engage from her Graveyard. Sky Strikers looked low on monsters; even so, their sustainability was frightening.
Far on the cliff, Zelo lowered his binoculars. Hannah had just messaged him—she'd already beaten most of the academy teachers. The plan was nearly secure. The only unstable variables left were Milo and Morgan. Milo had been lured away, leaving Morgan as the last wildcard.
"Akiyama, you going in?" he asked.
"Not a chance. She's just a kid. I've got better company," Akiyama replied, pulling his companion closer.
Zelo grimaced. Moments ago, Akiyama had boasted bravado. Now he dismissed it entirely.
That left Morgan unchecked—for now.
"My turn, draw!"
Morgan remained oblivious to distant schemers, her mind fixed on the duel.
Her draw was Reinforcement of the Army—perfect to fetch Raye.
Suddenly, before she could act, Shia sprung her Trap.
"I activate Altergeist Manifestation!"
"I Special Summon Altergeist Silquitous from my Graveyard!"
Knowing Engage was Set, Shia wasted no time—her plan was to use Silquitous to bounce it before it could be activated.
"I activate Altergeist Silquitous's effect!"
"I return Altergeist Kunquery to my hand, and your Set Sky Striker Mobilize - Engage returns as well!"
Since Engage was placed by Multirole, it would be banished when it left the field. Shia aimed to cut Morgan off from her resources.
Yet, Morgan was ready. She revealed Reinforcement.
"I activate Reinforcement of the Army from my hand!"
"I add Sky Striker Ace - Roze from my Deck to my hand!"
She immediately Normal Summoned Roze. From there, she could Link Summon once more.
"I Normal Summon Sky Striker Ace - Roze in Attack Position!"
The girl in a black uniform appeared, and Morgan wasted no time.
"I use Roze to set the Link Circuit!"
"Link Summon! Sky Striker Ace - Shizuku!"
Shizuku returned, cutting Shia's monsters down in power—many now below 1000 ATK. Morgan leaned into the bluff of an all-out attack, even boosting Zeke's strength.
"I activate Zeke's effect!"
"I target one card I control, send it to the Graveyard, and Zeke gains 1000 ATK!"
Shia's eyes narrowed. She believed Morgan intended to force a battle of strength. With her Life Points low, she had to be cautious. Without hesitation, she flipped her Set Trap.
"I activate Altergeist Protocol!"
...
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