Lightsworn — The Realm of Justice.
A red-haired priestess, Janice, stood calmly beside a summoning altar, staff in hand.
Within the glowing ritual circle, You Ye slowly opened his eyes.
"Janice? Is this the Lightsworn domain?"
You Ye stared at the girl for a few seconds, then recognized her — and realized which archetype's spirit world would be testing him.
"You… know me?" Janice blinked in surprise.
"I've seen your card. Seeing your spirit form is a first, though."
You Ye smiled casually.
This wasn't a lie.
In his previous life, he had been something of a collector, and of course, he had owned Lightsworn Priestess Janice.
"I see… a card collector."
Janice nodded; it made sense. Lightsworn was a mid–high-tier field that often conducted Xuan-rank tests for humans.
And this examinee was a special case, so encountering her card wasn't surprising.
"Please follow me. The one responsible for your certification is already waiting in the city's Duel Arena."
Janice bowed slightly and walked ahead.
"Alright."
You Ye followed without further questions.
Ten minutes later, they arrived at the gates of the City of Justice.
Just as You Ye was about to step forward—
A blinding surge of light engulfed him.
Janice's expression changed instantly. She stepped back several paces, her eyes sharpened with tension.
And not just her—
All the Lightsworn spirits nearby stopped laughing, their faces turning cold and wary as they stared at him.
"…?"
You Ye blinked.
The reaction was sudden and strange, but he didn't panic.
The duel rules had teleported him here.
He was under system protection.
Lightsworn spirits couldn't harm him even if they wanted to.
But their attitude shift was bizarre.
"Who are you?"
Janice demanded coldly.
"A duelist from the Dark World entering the Lightsworn homeland—
Are you here to gather information and reignite the Field War?"
"Dark World…?"
You Ye froze, then immediately understood.
In old card lore, Dark World and Lightsworn were sworn enemies.
He pulled out the original Grapha card and smiled:
"No. My field isn't Dark World.
I simply possess the Grapha terminal."
"Impossible."
Janice shook her head sharply.
"Dark World yellow-rank duelists cannot obtain a Grapha terminal.
And if you were a Dark World duelist capable of using Grapha, you'd be at least yellow-rank there.
Do you expect me to believe you're not from Dark World?"
She wasn't fully convinced—
But her frown revealed uncertainty.
Duel rules were impartial.
They would not teleport a Dark World duelist into the Lightsworn domain for certification.
And You Ye was unquestionably a special case.
Normally, Xuan-rank candidates were evaluated by lower Lightsworn spirits like her.
But You Ye was different—
His examiner was a terminal spirit, one of the top Lightsworn entities.
These spirits used to be Earth-rank examiners—
They were only reassigned because humans had grown too strong.
For Xuan-rank?
They were absolute overkill.
A gentle voice sounded from above.
"He is not joking.
This human is… unique.
The duel rules have confirmed he bears no Dark World field—
only the Grapha terminal."
A woman descended from the sky—
Golden hair, white robes, angelic wings—
riding a massive dragon with radiant wings.
Every Lightsworn spirit present—from Janice to the smallest Lightsworn Dog—
immediately knelt.
You Ye recognized her at once:
Lightsworn Athena Minerva
—final evolution of the Lightsworn maiden,
—Synchro terminal of the Lightsworn archetype.
"Human duelist," Minerva said softly,
"I have a request.
If you refuse, the Lightsworn field must forfeit your evaluation
and the rules will send you to another spirit world."
"You want me not to use Grapha in this duel, right?"
You Ye answered instantly.
Just stepping near the city had already triggered massive field reactions.
If he summoned Grapha inside the Duel Arena, the result would be catastrophic.
Minerva hadn't said it outright, but the intention was obvious.
If she wanted him to permanently give up Grapha,
she would have needed to offer compensation exceeding its value—
such as cards—
So, of course, she wasn't asking that.
"…Yes," Minerva nodded.
"If you agree, and if you defeat me,
Then, on behalf of the Lightsworn field,
I will grant you every card the Lightsworn field possesses."
"Even if you lose, as long as you do not perform poorly,
I will petition the rules to certify you regardless."
You Ye considered briefly, then nodded.
Lightsworn wasn't strong by default—
But with his Tearlaments,
the entire field was extremely useful for creating information gaps.
And he didn't want to waste time waiting for another exam.
"Thank you.
If ever you have need,
all Lightsworn spirits shall answer your call."
Minerva bowed deeply.
You Ye nodded casually.
He truly didn't need Lightsworn assistance—yet.
Minerva invited him onto the dragon's back.
The two soared over the City of Justice,
Then, it landed on the Duel Arena.
Duel Start
You Ye (LP 8000) vs Minerva (LP 8000)
The duel rules allowed Minerva to choose,
And she chose to go first.
She drew her opening hand—
froze—
Then sighed with visible frustration.
"…Let's redo this turn.
My hand…
Even Earth-rank duelists would fail with this."
"No need."
You Ye smiled, raising his hand with thumb and index finger almost touching.
"I'm stronger than you think. By, well… a lot."
Minerva hesitated, then nodded.
"Very well.
Even so, what I said earlier remains—
As long as you perform well, I will request that the rules let you pass."
You Ye gestured politely.
"Please."
Minerva Turn 1
"I activate Field Spell Realm of Justice.
Each time a card is sent from the Deck to the Graveyard,
It gains one Lightsworn Counter.
For each counter, all Lightsworn monsters gain 100 ATK."
"I activate Charge of the Light Brigade.
I mill the top 3 cards of my Deck,
then add a Level 4 or lower Lightsworn to my hand."
As she prepared to announce her search—
"Wait," You Ye said.
"I chain Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring from my hand.
Send it to the Graveyard.
Your search effect is negated."
Minerva: "?"
Judgment Dragon: "??"
All Lightsworn spirits: "????"
Ash Blossom was a card only Earth-rank duelists might obtain—
and even then, rarely.
A yellow-rank examinee using it?
Everyone was stunned.
Minerva stared at him.
"You… really are beyond expectations."
"I told you—
If you don't get serious, you'll lose."
You Ye smiled harmlessly.
"…Very well."
Minerva inhaled slowly and continued.
"Charge of the Light Brigade's mill effects activate:
Lightsworn Maiden Minerva is Chain 2.
Lightsworn Dragon is Chain 1."
C2 resolves: Minerva mills 1.
C1 resolves: she adds Judgment Dragon to her hand.
"I activate Lightsworn Fiend Raiden from my hand.
I return a Lightsworn card from my hand to the top of my Deck,
Special Summon Raiden,
then mill 2 cards."
Just as she was about to continue—
confident Ash Blossom was used already—
"I chain Maxx C" from my hand."
You Ye said calmly.
"Send it to the GY.
Each time you Special Summon this turn, I draw a card."
Minerva: "Ah?"
Judgment Dragon: "…No way."
All Lightsworn spirits: "O_O?!"
Ash Blossom was already absurd.
But Maxx "C"?
A card unobtainable without being Heaven-rank!?
How did a yellow-rank duelist have both!?
Minerva, Judgment Dragon, and all Lightsworn spirits suddenly understood—
This human's strength far exceeded yellow-rank.
Far exceeded Xuan-rank.
Maybe even—
beyond Earth-rank.
Minerva exhaled deeply.
"…I retract my earlier words.
You Ye, you deserve my full strength."
She continued:
"Chain 3 — Ash Blossom from my hand!
I negate Maxx "C"!"
You Ye glanced at his three remaining cards—
and did not chain anything.
Resolution:
C3 Ash → Maxx "C" negated
C2 Raiden Mill 2
C1 Raiden Special Summoned
"I mill Lightsworn Beast Wulf—
Wulf's effect activates:
Special Summon from GY."
She looked firmly at You Ye.
I'm going all out, You Ye.
I tune the Level 4 Tuner Raiden
with the Level 4 Wulf—
Synchro Summon a Level 8!
Come forth—
Lightsworn Athena Minerva!