Morgan, of course, knew about the Drytron Deck. It was a Ritual Deck, and also one of the top-tier decks. Although its combo process was a bit long, its main feature was being able to form a board with five interruptions in one turn, so people affectionately called it "Master of Negates."
After realizing her opponent was using Drytron, Morgan suddenly felt uncertain.
In her past life, she had been punished by this deck—her opponent built the strongest field on the first turn, summoned Drytron's boss, negated all five cards in her hand, and claimed a swift victory. So Morgan was very cautious about this deck. Still, being cautious didn't mean she had no chance of winning.
As long as she successfully disrupted her opponent's combo, there was still a chance.
With that thought, Morgan's eyes sharpened, and she immediately began her turn.
"I Normal Summon Sky Striker Ace - Raye in Attack Position!"
A girl in a white uniform appeared on the field. Since Morgan had used this Deck multiple times, everyone was already familiar with Raye. They weren't surprised; they were just curious how Morgan would deal with Yula.
"Next, I use Sky Striker Ace - Raye to set up the Link Circuit!"
"Link Summon! Sky Striker Ace - Shizuku!"
Now, it would depend on Yula's combo route. With the first turn, Morgan could only set Shizuku and wait.
"I set two cards face-down and end my turn!"
Morgan ended quickly. The two set cards were Infinite Impermanence and Cosmic Cyclone. In her hand, she also had Sky Striker Mecha - Hornet Drones and Maxx "C", enough to handle several situations. If Yula dared to continue her combo under Maxx "C", then Morgan would have the resources to counter Drytron.
At the end phase, Morgan used Shizuku's effect to search Sky Striker Mobilize - Engage, ensuring her resource cycle for the next turn.
Seeing Morgan end so quickly, the crowd in the dorm was surprised. After all, Morgan usually played suppression when going first, so ending so fast was rare. However, since they were Duel Academy students, they understood well enough—Sky Striker couldn't do much when going first.
Seeing Morgan's decisive ending, Yula smiled and declared:
"My turn, draw!"
Yula looked at her draw. It was Called by the Grave, which she placed into her hand before showing another card:
"I activate the effect of Drytron Delta Altais from my hand!"
"By tributing 1 Drytron monster or Ritual Monster other than this card from my hand or field, I can Special Summon it in Defense Position from my hand or Graveyard."
As Yula started her combo, Morgan didn't hesitate to discard Maxx "C" to the Graveyard.
"At this moment, I activate Maxx "C"!"
"This turn, every time you successfully Special Summon a monster, I draw 1 card."
Yula laughed—she hadn't expected her Called by the Grave to come in handy so soon. Maxx "C" posed no threat. Using that card to restrict her combo was futile, and instead, Morgan had wasted a resource.
"As if! I activate the Quick-Play Spell Called by the Grave from my hand!"
"I banish your Maxx "C" from the Graveyard, and its effect is negated!"
It was such a familiar scene—one Morgan had often witnessed in her past life. Maybe this was the price of relying on hand traps: the trickster always gets tricked. Morgan sighed helplessly. With Maxx "C" shut down, her only option was Infinite Impermanence.
With Morgan restricted, Yula laughed and sent a Ritual Monster from her hand to the Graveyard:
"I Special Summon Drytron Delta Altais!"
A mechanical dragon appeared on the field. Its body was pure white with glowing blue joints, but instead of metallic, it looked almost like plastic.
[Drytron Delta Altais] Level 1│LIGHT│Machine│2000 ATK / 0 DEF
"Then, I can reveal a Ritual Monster or Ritual Spell in my hand to draw 1 card."
Yula revealed Cyber Angel Benten and drew a card.
It was a Cyber Emergency.
Though key in Cyber Dragon Decks, this card was also vital for Drytron, since its effect let you add 1 Cyber Dragon monster or any LIGHT Machine monster that can't be Normal Summoned to your hand.
And all Drytron monsters fit that requirement, being unable to be Normal Summoned and only Special Summoned by Drytron effects. Perfect synergy with Cyber Emergency.
Chapter 148
After drawing, Yula immediately played it.
"I activate Cyber Emergency!"
"I add a LIGHT Machine monster that cannot be Normal Summoned from my Deck to my hand."
"I add Drytron Alpha Thuban!"
Seeing this, Morgan had to admit—impressive. This was the true hand quality of Drytron.
Not everyone could pilot Drytron—you had to have enough cards.
Yula immediately activated the monster she had just searched.
"I activate Drytron Alpha Thuban's effect!"
"I tribute Cyber Angel Benten from my hand to Special Summon it!"
"Then, I add 1 Ritual Monster from my Deck to my hand."
Drytron Alpha Thuban appeared, looking similar to Delta Altais, with only minor differences. Honestly, Morgan had trouble telling these similarly colored monsters apart without looking closely. Anyhow, she did know Drytron's composition.
The Deck had three cores: Drytron, Herald, and Cyber Angel. The main axis was Drytron, since they generated resources so well—as shown by the string of advantage just now.
Albeit the true boss of the Deck was the Herald engine—the heart of the negation lock.
Once Herald of Ultimateness hit the field, the opponent didn't even need to read card effects—just negate everything with Angel monsters in hand.
"I add Herald of Ultimateness to my hand!"
Hearing that, Morgan's eyes sharpened again. The card Yula just added was none other than the Herald boss.
As long as Yula had Angel monsters in hand, Herald could negate monster effects, Spells, Traps, and Special Summons. And most importantly—it had no once-per-turn restriction. Practically an illegal card.
Then, thanks to Cyber Angel Benten's effect, Yula added Diviner of the Herald to her hand.
The Herald tuner was key for the upcoming Ritual plays, since it could adjust Levels like a Synchro tool.
So when facing Drytron, negating Diviner of the Herald was a must.
With that thought, Morgan immediately flipped her set card.
"I activate Infinite Impermanence!"
"I negate the effect of your Diviner of the Herald!"
Bubbles of distortion enveloped the Herald, stopping its effect. Yula's Ritual Summon was immediately stalled. Though displeased, she wasn't discouraged. The duel had only just begun. She wanted to see how long Morgan could last under Drytron's relentless assault.
As long as Morgan ran out of interruptions, her defeat would be inevitable.
Yet, even with the Herald stopped, Yula wasn't done. After all, she still had two Level 1 monsters.
"I use Drytron Alpha Thuban and Drytron Delta Altais to set the Overlay Network!"
"Xyz Summon! Drytron Mu Beta Fafnir!"
Golden data swirled into an Overlay vortex. The two monsters became streams of light and fused within it, summoning forth a massive dragon. Its body was long and lean, wings spread wide, fierce in appearance—anyhow, its plasticky texture made it look almost comical.
[Drytron Mu Beta Fafnir] Rank 1│LIGHT│Machine│2000 ATK / 0 DEF
The spectators immediately started murmuring. Rank 1 Xyz Monsters were rare—most were Rank 4. Even so, what caught more attention was the Drytron name itself. The string of letters looked unreadable, and no one knew how Yula was pronouncing them.
"That monster's name is so strange. I recognize each character; even so, put together, I don't get it."
"Same here. If I used this Deck, I wouldn't even know how to say the names."
"Still, what kind of Deck is this anyway? Has anyone dueled Yula-senpai before?"
"I have. Best advice? Break her board before it's set up, or you'll never get a chance."
Watching the duel, Isla looked uneasy. She didn't know much about Yula's Deck. It seemed like a Ritual Deck, albeit instead of Ritual Summoning, Yula had made an Xyz Summon. Or perhaps she was forced into it because Morgan had blocked her Ritual play.
The true nature of this Deck would only be revealed as the duel went on.
"I activate Drytron Mu Beta Fafnir's effect!"
"When this card is Xyz Summoned, I can send 1 Drytron card from my Deck to the Graveyard."
...
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