The Silver Castle's Field Spell synergized strongly with its boss monster, able to pop an opponent's card. This was one of the archetype's core effects for board breaking. Beyond that was its Special Summon ability—without Level restrictions, it could summon the boss directly.
A vast silver fortress rose around them, gleaming beneath the sunlight.
Ritter blinked in surprise, then smiled at Morgan. "A beautiful Field Spell. Suits you well."
Jade folded her arms and scowled. "Isla, who's that smug guy flirting with Morgan?!"
Isla barely reacted. Ritter was famous; regardless, she wasn't impressed. Such shallow charm wouldn't move Morgan. To win her favor, you had to defeat her in a duel. And Isla doubted Ritter had the skill.
As Isla predicted, Morgan was unmoved, answering flatly:
"I activate the effect of Labrynth Stovie Torbie from my hand!"
"I Set 1 Labrynth Spell/Trap directly from my Deck or hand."
Since Labrynth was a trap-focused archetype, its monsters all searched traps. This was one of its main Level 4s, useful even during the opponent's turn.
Morgan discarded Stovie and another card to the Graveyard, then continued.
"I Set Labrynth Welcome directly from my Deck!"
With her field set, Morgan glanced at her hand. Two more traps remained: Torrential Tribute and Trap Trick. Both could stop Ritter's plays. Torrential would clear the field, but timing was key.
With no more moves, she ended her turn.
"I Set two cards and end my turn!"
Isla recognized the setup instantly. Classic Labrynth—no flashy board, just traps waiting to spring. She was sure those three cards would make Ritter suffer.
Ritter, however, was surprised. Morgan had ended with just a 1600 ATK monster on the field. Still, the facedowns and the imposing Field Spell made him wary.
"My turn—draw!"
He smiled. His assistants had built this Deck for him, and after testing, he felt confident. Now he'd prove himself. The card he drew was perfect: That Grass Looks Greener, a staple for his mill strategy.
"I activate the Spell Card—That Grass Looks Greener!"
"If my Deck has more cards than yours: send cards from the top of my Deck to the Graveyard until we have the same number!"
He dumped a stack of cards, triggering a chain of effects.
Morgan raised an eyebrow—so Ritter was on Shaddoll Grass. Curious, though she wasn't about to let him go unchecked.
"I activate my Set card—Labrynth Welcome!"
"Special Summon 1 Labrynth monster from my Deck!"
"Then I chain Trap Trick!"
"I banish 1 normal Trap from my Deck, then Set another copy directly!"
The duel heated up immediately, both revealing their core strategies. The crowd murmured in awe. Among them, Akiyama's bald head glistened as he shouted wildly. He cheered every time Morgan gained advantage and booed loudly whenever Ritter did, drawing annoyed stares. Even Milo noticed, frowning at the man's theatrics.
Meanwhile, Ritter's fan-girls sneered at Akiyama. Compared to their elegant Ritter-sama, this bald fool was an eyesore.
Chains resolved. Trap Trick banished Eradicator Epidemic Virus and Set another copy. The virus was Labrynth's core, wiping opponent's Spells/Traps for three turns at the cost of tributing a 2500+ ATK DARK monster—the boss Lady herself.
Next, Labrynth Welcome resolved.
"I Special Summon Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle!"
A white-skinned woman with silver hair, silver eyes, and silver devil horns appeared, clad in a shining white dress, hefting a massive axe. Her imposing figure drew stares even from the boys—Akiyama leered openly.
[Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle] Level 8│DARK│Fiend│2900 ATK / 1900 DEF
Because Welcome had been activated, the Field Spell also triggered, popping a card. With no opponent cards to target, Morgan destroyed her own Ariana.
Only then did Ritter's Grass resolve.
"I activate the effect of Naelshaddoll Ariel from my Graveyard! When sent by effect: banish up to 3 of your opponent's cards from their Graveyard!"
Other Shaddolls also chained. Morgan, familiar with Shaddoll chains, quickly used Stovie's Graveyard effect to recover value.
"I activate Stovie in my Graveyard! If a normal Trap removes a monster, I can Special Summon this card!"
The Field Spell also continued in, ready to summon another Fiend from her hand or Grave.
The crowd buzzed—so many chains off just one card.
Ritter blinked, unfamiliar with Labrynth's nuances. But ignorance didn't stop him from acting. He still had Infinite Impermanence in hand, and he was ready.
Morgan then activated Lovely Labrynth's third effect.
"When a normal Trap removes a monster, I can randomly destroy 1 of your cards from hand or field!"
Ritter's eyes narrowed. "I chain Infinite Impermanence!"
He revealed the trap. "I negate Lovely Labrynth's effect!"
Gasps rang out. To negate the boss monster was no small move. Morgan's eyes narrowed. If Lovely couldn't fire, she would use it as tribute instead.
"Now, I activate Eradicator Epidemic Virus!"
"I tribute Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle to activate it!"
...
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