Ever since playing a Shadow Game with Shadi, Yuto realized he could now initiate them himself.
Endless darkness silently swallowed the office, and a Duel field slowly appeared across the desk between them.
"You have Duel Monsters cards, don't you, Ms. Chono?"
"Of course. Even I was young once~" She pulled a Deck from her drawer.
"Good. If I win, you'll fully support Téa's cause." Yuto drew his own Deck from his pocket.
"If you win, I'll give you the negatives of those photos."
Chono nodded and began shuffling. Yuto repeated the rules.
"2000 Life Points. Draw five cards at the start, one card each turn. Got it?"
"Yes, teacher understands." Her fake professional smile made Yuto uneasy. He took the first turn.
"My turn."
He drew, now holding six cards: [Great Tray-class Land Battleship], [Type 61 Tank], [Swordsman of Landstar], [Missile Mounting], [Bombardment Marker], and [Negate Attack].
"I Set one card and Summon Great Tray-class Land Battleship to the Desert!"
A 2000 Attack monster?! Damn…
"My turn, draw!" Chono glanced at her hand—no monsters strong enough. Then she noticed: Land Battleship was a Machine.
A Machine in the Desert… her lips curled.
"I Summon Mushroom Man #2 to the Graveyard, then attack your Land Battleship!"
Its 1000 Attack doubled in the Graveyard due to being Zombie-type—2000. Both monsters were destroyed.
"My turn, draw!"
[Mushroom Man].
Tch. Too much filler. He'd need to buy more packs at Kame Game Shop soon.
"I Summon Type 61 Tank to the Desert and activate Missile Mounting!"
He placed both cards. "Missile Mounting boosts it by 500 Attack, and Type 61 Tank ignores field effects!"
The empowered Mushroom Man shrank back. "Attack!"
Chono's LP dropped to 1700. The Shadow Game made her feel the pain directly.
"AAAHHH!" Sweat streaked through her makeup, leaving her looking ghastly.
This boy… he'd pay!
"My turn, draw!" Her trembling hand nearly dropped the Deck—but it was her strongest card.
"I Summon Kanan the Swordmistress to the Plains! Attack!"
1400 Attack—enough to crush the Tank.
"At this moment, I activate my Trap—Bombardment Marker! Neither battles, both are destroyed!" Red smoke filled the field, followed by explosions that blew both monsters away.
Chono panicked. Yuto pressed on.
"My turn, draw!" [Radar Lock]. Part of the winning combo.
"I Summon Swordsman of Landstar in Defense Position to the Forest."
Out of cards already? Chono placed a Spell and a Monster. "I activate Burning Land, turning Forest into Wasteland! Then I Summon Chimera and attack!"
Its 800 Attack doubled to 1600 in Wasteland, breaking through Swordsman's Defense—but Yuto's LP stayed at 2000.
"My turn, draw!" [FF-B/2 Flying Manta Bomber]!
600 Attack—doubled against ground units to 1200. With Radar Lock doubling again, 2400 Attack—enough to destroy Chimera!
"I Summon FF-B/2 Flying Manta Bomber to the Wasteland and activate Radar Lock!"
600 → 1200 → 2400!
The Bomber dove, obliterating Chimera. Chono had no strong monsters left, only weak ones to stall. In the end, with no monsters, she lost the Shadow Game.
"You've lost, Ms. Chono. Remember our deal—or else…" Yuto raised the photos.
"I… I understand…"
"And don't even think of breaking your word. If you try…" He snapped his fingers. The darkness receded.
Her ruined makeup revealed a haggard face.
"You wouldn't want to show up bare-faced every day, would you?"
"AAAAHHHHHHH!!!"
Her screams echoed as Yuto left the office. Téa rushed over.
"Are you okay? Will you be punished?"
Yuto patted his chest. "Of course not. It's settled—she'll help you reform the rules."
"Really?! How did you—?"
"Secret~"
"Yuto~" She pouted as they teased each other, walking off together.
Two days later, the rule changes were announced. Téa was overjoyed.
But with looser rules, new problems emerged…
"Make way for the Great Prophet! Lord Kozuno arrives!"
Rows of stone-faced girls flanked a short figure in a black robe.
A supposed prophet, apparently.
Chatting in the hall, Yuto's group turned to watch.
"What's that?" Joey asked.
"Some psychic who showed up recently. They say he can see the future," Miho explained.
"And supposedly, really accurate. He predicted a fire at a student's home in Class A—and it happened," Téa added.
"Téa, don't tell me you believe that."
She shook her head. "No, I don't."
Passing by, Kozuno overheard and cast a knowing glance at her…
...
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