The dreamlike unicorn appeared on the field, and the crowd erupted after a brief silence. None had expected this monster—Yula had never used it before. After all, this was a generic Extra Deck card Morgan had used first. Yula had always opposed Morgan, so no one thought she would copy her build.
Regardless, clearly, for victory, Yula no longer cared.
Knightmare Unicorn's arrival could shift everything. By discarding her only card in hand, she could send Morgan's Sky Striker Ace - Hayate back to the Extra Deck.
Although Raye's effect would trigger afterward, as long as the direct-attacking Hayate was gone, Yula's Life Points would be safe.
With 2200 ATK, Unicorn outpowered most Sky Strikers.
Yula also knew Morgan's Extra Deck had no Shizukus left, and Hayate was her only one left on the field. Both duelists were running on fumes.
Thus, Unicorn could level the playing field. Even if it dragged into a grind game, she could claw back from disadvantage to parity. In a top-deck war, she had the edge.
Yula wasted no time.
"I activate Knightmare Unicorn's effect!"
"When this card is Link Summoned: discard 1 card, target 1 card on the field, shuffle it into the Deck."
She pitched her only card and pointed at Hayate. "I return your Sky Striker Ace - Hayate to the Extra Deck!"
Light flared, and Hayate dissolved back into Morgan's Extra Deck. Though it wasn't destroyed, leaving the field still triggered Raye's revival.
"At this moment, I activate Sky Striker Ace - Raye in my Graveyard!"
"I Special Summon her in Defense Position!"
Raye returned, Morgan's lone defense. Unicorn could attack once, but no more.
Isla frowned. She knew the Sky Striker playstyle well: grind games were their weakness. Overusing their transformations burned through resources quickly. In the end, only Raye would be left to recycle. If Raye fell, Morgan had nothing.
Yula understood too. She declared her attack.
"Battle! Knightmare Unicorn attacks Sky Striker Ace - Raye!"
Raye was destroyed. Morgan's field was empty. After two miracle draws, Yula finally seized momentum. She grinned, the frustration of earlier now replaced by exhilaration.
Yet, it wasn't over yet. She needed to finish Morgan next turn.
Morgan frowned. The good news was that Hayate had only gone back to the Extra Deck, not the Graveyard. With another Raye in hand, she could bring it out again for a direct strike.
However, Yula would surely destroy it next turn, leaving only Raye.
"My turn ends."
As Yula ended, Isla scanned the field. Both were running low on resources. Albeit in such a depleted state, Yula had the edge. With one more Drytron or Ritual Monster top-deck, she could summon another Link-3.
Morgan would be in real danger—unless Yula failed her next draw.
At the window, Hannah returned, face covered in a mask, her figure unmistakable. She had been ready to sleep, disappointed in Yula. But now, she watched in shock as Yula clawed her way back into the duel. One mistake could cost either side.
Was Yula accomplishing what she herself never could—defeating Morgan?
Hannah stared blankly. Could it be that her careless move had set up this miracle?
Morgan began her turn.
"My turn—draw!"
She grimaced. It was Maxx "C." Useful, but situational. If Yula top-decked another extender, she could use it. That said, if not, it was dead.
"I Normal Summon Sky Striker Ace - Raye in Attack Position!"
Yula blinked—another Raye? No wonder Morgan wasn't afraid.
"I use Raye to set the Link Circuit!"
"Link Summon! Sky Striker Ace - Hayate!"
Just as expected. Morgan's last push.
"Battle! Sky Striker Ace - Hayate, direct attack!"
Hayate's sniper shot landed. 1500 ATK wasn't enough to end it, though it hurt.
Morgan scanned her hand and Graveyard, then sighed, ending her turn.
"With Hayate's effect, I send Sky Striker Mecha Modules - Multirole to the Graveyard. My turn ends."
Seeing Morgan's weary expression, Yula's smile grew. Fortune had turned—this duel was hers.
"My turn—draw!"
The crowd tensed. If Yula drew the right card, Morgan would face her first defeat in a year. Yula looked at her card—her face froze. The audience thought she bricked.
Although her silence was disbelief—her luck was insane.
It was Cyber Emergency.
She could search another Drytron.
Nonetheless, she cooled her excitement. Without Ritual Monsters left, she could only summon Drytrons in Defense to stall.
"I activate Cyber Emergency from my hand!"
"I add Drytron Alpha Thuban to my hand!"
"Then, I activate Drytron Gamma Eltanin in my Graveyard! I tribute Drytron Alpha Thuban, and Special Summon Gamma!"
Morgan immediately threw down Maxx "C."
"I activate Maxx "C" from my hand!"
"This turn, every time you Special Summon, I draw 1 card!"
Yula froze. If she kept going, she'd give Morgan the resources to come back. Terrified of handing her opponent advantage, she stopped.
Gamma was Special Summoned, and Morgan drew. It was Called by the Grave. Not ideal, but not useless.
"Battle! Knightmare Unicorn attacks Sky Striker Ace - Hayate!"
Unicorn's horn struck. Hayate was destroyed—this time, sent to the Graveyard. Raye revived again. Morgan's final cycle.
Yula smiled and ended her turn.
"My turn ends."
Isla frowned. Any other Deck, and Morgan wouldn't be in this spot. However, Sky Striker's fragile grind put her here. Still, Isla believed Morgan wouldn't lose.
Morgan thought the same.
"My turn—draw!"
She drew, looked, and smiled.
Monster Reborn.
It could revive anything—from either Graveyard.
And her target was the very monster Yula had tried to use to kill her.
...
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