Hearing Morgan's words, Yula froze, then clenched her teeth. She had to accept that this turn she couldn't inflict any more damage. Her gamble for a killing blow had failed, leaving her board in an awkward state. Borrelsword Dragon's Attack was high; however, it had no protection.
Herald of Perfection could interrupt Morgan's chains, but only if she still had Fairy monsters in hand.
Because of her poor decision-making, Yula had spent so many resources for a field that was neither well-protected nor filled with negates.
That meant, by the next turn, she would no longer be able to stop Morgan.
Isla thought the same. Morgan's field looked bare, albeit with Engage to recycle resources and Hornet Drones to make a Link-2, it was already her advantage. Still, Yula's turn wasn't over—it depended on whether she could build another interruption before ending.
Under Drytron Mu Beta Fafnir's attack, Kaina was destroyed.
However, Yula wavered. After weighing her options, she made her choice. In her Extra Deck was a special card… Hannah had said it was a monster recreated by Shadow Duelists from the Duel King's legacy, with a powerful effect that could be stacked onto an Xyz that had already attacked.
This was her only path.
"I use Drytron Mu Beta Fafnir to set the Overlay Network!"
Morgan frowned. Overlaying with a Rank 1 Xyz? What could that summon?
As she wondered, Yula continued:
"Xyz Summon! Downerd Magician!"
A girl with dark circles under her eyes and two flasks in hand appeared on the field.
Seeing this monster, Morgan's expression turned odd. A guess rose in her mind.
'Downerd Magician? Normally, people only used that card for…'
'No way. Is Yula going to summon…'
Before Morgan could finish the thought, Yula had already moved on.
"I use Downerd Magician to set the Overlay Network!"
"Continue the Xyz Summon—Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS - Sky Thunder!"
Before Morgan's astonished eyes, the familiar Gundam descended from the heavens, its massive frame landing with a crash that kicked up clouds of dust. She hadn't expected Yula to have ZEUS as well. Did that mean this world was evolving on its own? Or did ZEUS truly exist here, just so rare that few knew?
Her guess wasn't wrong. This card was indeed tied to the Duel King. After his disappearance, Shadow Duelists had recreated it, but only one copy existed. Hannah had entrusted it to Yula, the strongest among them, which was why it now appeared in this duel.
Still, Morgan didn't panic. It was Yula's turn, and she had no cards to fuel ZEUS's effect. If Yula detached materials, she'd only wipe her own board.
Blowing away her own monsters before Morgan's turn was clearly unwise.
After a moment's hesitation, Yula gave up.
"My turn ends."
Morgan laughed. With Engage to search for any card she needed, ZEUS was no threat. As long as she removed it before summoning, Yula had no way to respond.
"My turn—draw!"
She looked at her card. Another Raye. With Hornet Drones in hand, her plays would go uninterrupted.
"I activate Sky Striker Mobilize - Engage from my hand!"
"I add Sky Striker Maneuver - Afterburners! from my Deck to my hand!"
She quickly searched. This card could destroy a monster if she controlled no Main Monster Zone monsters—the perfect answer to ZEUS. When Yula summoned it, she had exposed a fatal weakness.
Seeing Morgan's precise search, Yula stiffened. She didn't know what Afterburners did; that said, she was certain ZEUS was its target.
She regretted summoning ZEUS at the end of her turn—anyhow, it was too late.
Around them, the spectators held their breath, then whispered. Most had never seen ZEUS before.
"Whoa, what's that giant robot? Looks awesome!"
"No idea what it does… Did Yula always have that card?"
"Who knows. Nobody really knows what's in her Deck—she doesn't have many friends."
"But how will Morgan deal with that monster?"
Unlike them, Isla stared in shock. She knew Morgan's connection to the Duel King, and she knew ZEUS's origins. For Yula to summon it out of nowhere rattled her. Since when had the Duel King's legacy become so common?
While they wondered, Morgan acted.
"I activate the Spell Card from my hand—Sky Striker Maneuver - Afterburners!"
"If I control no Main Monster Zone monsters: target 1 face-up monster on the field; destroy it."
"I destroy your Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS - Sky Thunder!"
Kagari appeared, her blades igniting with fire like a phoenix, cleaving ZEUS in two.
Seeing this, Isla sighed. The same monster—yet in different hands, its power was worlds apart. Morgan had used ZEUS to sweep away threats, while Yula had achieved nothing and lost it instantly. That was the difference in duel mastery.
At the window, Hannah's silhouette appeared. Seeing Yula's pitiful state, she regretted giving her ZEUS.
Regardless, what was done was done. Now, the duel would play out.
"Next, I activate Sky Striker Mecha - Hornet Drones from my hand!"
A drone token appeared. With it, Morgan could Link Summon and put another Spell in her Graveyard, powering up her Engage. Her aim was Kagari, to recycle more resources.
"I use Sky Striker Ace Token to set the Link Circuit!"
"Link Summon! Sky Striker Ace - Kagari!"
Kagari appeared, reclaiming Engage from the Graveyard.
"I activate Kagari's effect!"
"When this card is Special Summoned, target 1 Sky Striker Spell in your Graveyard; add it to your hand."
"I return Sky Striker Mobilize - Engage!"
'Crap!'
Yula's heart tightened. With Engage back, Morgan could activate it multiple times per turn. Her resources would snowball, while Yula's dwindled. The momentum had shifted.
"I activate Engage again!"
"I add Sky Striker Mecha - Widow Anchor to my hand, then draw 1 card!"
Looking at her draw, Morgan smiled. Exactly what she wanted. She had three Rayes in her Deck, and now two were in her hand. As long as the girls were with her, Sky Strikers were invincible.
"Next, I activate Sky Striker Mecha - Widow Anchor from my hand!"
"With its effect, I take control of your Borrelsword Dragon!"
'What?!'
Yula watched in shock as her 3000 ATK dragon strode over to Morgan's side. She had no way to stop it. To lose control of her strongest monster was disastrous.
"Then, I Normal Summon Sky Striker Ace - Raye in Attack Position!"
Another Raye? Yula's eyes widened. She knew Morgan already had two known cards—this Raye must have been drawn just now. Such luck! Another starter in hand.
Now Morgan would do exactly what Yula had wanted last turn: maximize damage.
"I use Sky Striker Ace - Kagari to set the Link Circuit!"
"Link Summon! Sky Striker Ace - Hayate!"
Hayate's direct attack would recycle resources and deal more damage.
Morgan's field was set. In Yula's stunned gaze, she declared:
"Battle! Borrelsword Dragon attacks Herald of Perfection!"
The dragon fired a massive bullet, piercing straight through the Herald.
Now, Yula had no hand, no monsters… nothing left.
"Continue! Sky Striker Ace - Hayate, direct attack!"
...
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