"You don't understand anything at all!"
"I activate the first effect of [Thunder Dragonmatrix] in my hand. During either player's turn, I can discard this card and target one Thunder monster I control; that monster gains 500 Attack."
Violent lightning surged back into the weakened dragon.
"[Thunder Dragon Titan] gains 500 Attack. Then, I chain Titan's effect–destroy your [Vampire Fraulein]!"
Golden lightning struck with perfect accuracy, shattering the elegant vampire.
"Then I enter the Battle Phase! [Thunder Dragon Titan], attack your [Moissa Wight]!"
[Thunder Dragon Titan, ATK: 700 (200 + 500)]
[Moissa Wight, ATK: 0]
Titan's claws crushed the skeleton knight, the aftershock sweeping toward Phila.
[Phila, LP: 6000 → 5300]
"[Aloof Lupine], attack your [Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord]!"
[Aloof Lupine, ATK: 500]
[Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord, DEF: 0]
Without the support of deathly energy, the black dragon was torn apart by the lone wolf's claws, collapsing into charred remains.
"[Thunder Dragonduo], direct attack!"
[Thunder Dragonduo, ATK: 700]
Another bolt of purple-black lightning struck in front of Phila.
[Phila, LP: 5300 → 4600]
Rikka swung her hand.
"After that, I perform the Special Summon procedure of [Thunder Dragon Colossus] from my Extra Deck! During a turn in which a Thunder monster's effect was activated in the hand, I can Tribute one Thunder Effect Monster I control, except a Fusion Monster, to Special Summon it from the Extra Deck!"
Thunder Dragonduo transformed into a mass of dark clouds, reforming amidst roaring thunder.
"I Tribute [Thunder Dragonduo] and Special Summon [Thunder Dragon Colossus]!"
A demonic, dark-green Thunder Dragon coiled beside Titan, completely locking down any possibility of searching cards from the Deck.
"Turn end."
As Rikka declared, the three monsters on the field returned to their original stats.
Due to Thunder Dragonmatrix's boost, Titan's Attack settled at 3700.
"Then it's my turn–draw!"
Through Phila's hand, Raku drew a card.
"I activate the first effect of [Eldlich the Golden Lord] in my hand. Send this card and one Spell or Trap from my hand to the Graveyard, then target one card on the field; send it to the Graveyard."
Raku revealed two cards from his hand.
"I send [The Paths of Destiny] and [Eldlich the Golden Lord] to the Graveyard, targeting your [Thunder Dragon Colossus]. Send it to the Graveyard."
He looked at Rikka.
"It's sent to the Graveyard, so its destruction replacement effect is useless."
A dazzling golden pillar of light erupted from the ground, instantly engulfing the newly summoned Colossus. It was reduced to ashes without any chance to resist.
[Thunder Dragon Colossus] was removed.
Rikka froze.
–Not because of Colossus.
She stared at the Trap Card that had just been sent to the Graveyard by the white-haired girl across from her.
[The Paths of Destiny].
A simple and brutal card that made both players toss coins to deal damage.
What kind of proper Zombie deck would run such a bizarre burn card?!
Rikka had only ever seen that card in one person's deck… the burn deck Raku once used against a Cyber Dragon duelist.
"…Who exactly are you?"
Rikka's lips trembled.
"Rikka."
The white-haired girl across from her lowered her battle stance.
"If something really happens, remember this: none of it is your fault."
Rikka's vision blurred.
All the grievance and fear she had been holding back these past few days, refusing to show to anyone, collapsed the moment she heard those words. Tears rolled down her cheeks in large drops, hitting the edge of the Duel Disk.
Raku looked at his crying sister, but did not stop his actions.
"I activate the second effect of [Cursed Eldland]! Pay 800 Life Points; add one Eldlich monster or one Golden Land Spell/Trap from my Deck to my hand."
[Phila, LP: 4600 → 3800]
"I add the Counter Trap [Golden Land Forever!] to my hand."
"After that, I activate the second effect of [Eldlich the Golden Lord] in the Graveyard! If this card is in the Graveyard, I can send one Spell/Trap I control to the Graveyard; add this card to my hand, then I can Special Summon one Zombie monster from my hand. The monster Special Summoned by this effect gains 1000 Attack and Defense, and cannot be destroyed by card effects until the end of the opponent's turn."
Raku pointed at the Continuous Spell he had just activated.
"I send [Cursed Eldland] on the field to the Graveyard. After adding Eldlich to my hand, I Special Summon it in Attack Position!"
Golden light pierced through the deathly silence of the plaza. The golden lord, clad in dazzling armor, descended onto the battlefield with overwhelming pressure.
[Eldlich the Golden Lord, ATK: 2500 → 3500]
"Resolve the effect of [Cursed Eldland] being sent to the Graveyard. When this card is sent from the Spell/Trap Zone to the Graveyard, I can send one Eldlich monster or one Golden Land Spell/Trap from my Deck to the Graveyard. I send [Huaquero of the Golden Land] to the Graveyard."
Raku raised his hand.
"Battle Phase! [Eldlich the Golden Lord], attack your [Aloof Lupine]!"
[Eldlich the Golden Lord, ATK: 3500]
[Aloof Lupine, ATK: 1700]
The lone wolf was instantly reduced to dust in the golden light. The shockwave forced Rikka, who was still wiping her tears, to step back half a step.
[Rikka, LP: 7900 → 6100]
"I set one card and end my turn."
Raku paused briefly, adding the final declaration.
"At the end of the turn, I banish [Huaquero of the Golden Land] from my Graveyard and set [Eldlixir of White Destiny]."
"My turn, draw!"
Rikka held the drawn card between her trembling fingers… [Starry Knight Rayel].
She bit her lip and pushed it back to the deepest part of her hand. Now wasn't the time to use it. If she didn't bring out absolute suppression, how could she possibly win…
"I activate [Thunder Dragonhawk]'s effect! I recover [Thunder Dragon Fusion] from the Banished Zone!"
Rikka's fingers swiftly moved to the Graveyard.
"Then, I chain [Thunder Dragon Titan] on the field–"
"Sorry, that won't work."
Raku's calm yet unquestionable voice cut through the rumbling thunder.
"I chain my face-down [Eldlixir of White Destiny]."
Raku raised his Duel Disk, and a dense white mist of death spread across the field at once.
"I block the timing of your Titan's trigger. Resolve the Chain in reverse order! First effect of White Eldlixir: Special Summon one Zombie monster from my hand or Graveyard. Because I control [Eldlich the Golden Lord], I'm not restricted to summoning only archetype monsters. I revive [Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord] from my Graveyard in Defense Position!"
Deep skeletal remains reformed within the white mist, and the black dragon with ghostly blue flames once again stood before Raku.
Rikka's eyes were still red, but she did not stop.
"Then I activate the first effect of [Thunder Dragonhawk]! Discard this card; Special Summon one 'Thunder Dragon' monster from my Graveyard or Banished Zone, except [Thunder Dragonhawk]. I Special Summon [Thunder Dragonduo]!"
A purple-black beast condensed once more from the lightning.
"I chain the Quick Effect of [Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord]. During your turn, I can target one Zombie monster in my Graveyard, except itself; Special Summon it."
"Once again, I block your Titan's timing. Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord revives [Vampire Fraulein] from the Graveyard in Defense Position."
A luxurious coffin was pried open by the dragon's claws. The arrogant blonde vampire once again stepped onto the field.
Twice she had tried to trigger Titan's destruction effect… and twice it had been shut down before it could even begin by perfectly timed chain insertions.
Rikka grew frantic. She suddenly pulled out a Spell Card and slammed it onto the field.
"Then I activate [Thunder Dragon Fusion]!"
Raku watched the girl across from him, her eyes reddened with desperation. Even her deck's core logic had been cast aside, leaving only raw aggression.
"I chain the Counter Trap [Golden Land Forever!]!"
A brilliantly radiant Trap Card flipped open in Raku's back row.
"First effect: if I control [Eldlich the Golden Lord], when a monster effect, Spell, or Trap Card is activated, I can Tribute one Zombie monster I control; negate that activation, and if I do, destroy it!"
Raku extended his hand and decisively pointed at the massive Level 10 black dragon before him.
"I Tribute [Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord]. Your [Thunder Dragon Fusion] is negated and destroyed!"
Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord let out an unwilling roar as it dissolved into countless particles of light. The Fusion Spell Rikka had just played shattered under the golden radiance.
"What?"
Rikka stared blankly at her empty Spell Zone.
"Why won't you trust your true strength?"
Raku looked at the stiff girl across from him.
"My true… strength?"
Rikka lowered her gaze to her hand.
The [Starry Knight Rayel] she had pushed to the very edge.
She clenched her fist.
"I activate the Field Spell! [Starry Knight Sky]!"
The Duel Disk let out a clear chime.
The gloomy fog of Zombie World was split apart by a holy beam of light descending from the sky. Snowflakes began to fall, and in the distance, the grave markers were covered by the glow of church bells and a sacred choir.
Golden lightning and gray death energy were both dispelled by this pure light.
"Now, using the additional Normal Summon granted by [Starry Knight Sky], I summon Rayel from my hand!"
An angelic knight with white wings and a radiant sword descended onto the snow-covered field.
"First effect of [Starry Knight Rayel]: when this card is Normal Summoned, I can add one Starry Knight Spell/Trap from my Deck to my hand."
Rikka took a card from the Deck that appeared.
"The card I add is [Starry Knight Ceremony]! As the effect resolves, I activate it, adding one Starry Knight monster or one Level 7 LIGHT Dragon monster from my Deck to my hand."
Another card was drawn.
Rikka held the monster card in her hand against her chest. She closed her eyes.
"Will you still believe in me?"
She took a deep breath, suddenly opening her eyes and raising the card high.
"Then! I Tribute Rayel and [Thunder Dragonduo] on the field! Tribute Summon!"
The knight and the thunder dragon both turned into streams of pure sacrificial light, rushing toward the darkened sky.
"[Starry Night, Starry Dragon]!"
Accompanied by a clear dragon's cry that echoed through the clouds, a white dragon radiating sunlight-like brilliance spread its wings and slowly descended from the pillar of light like a divine being.
It was slightly smaller than Thunder Dragon Titan, but its immaculate holiness made all other monsters seem dull in comparison.
"First effect of Starry Night, Starry Dragon! When this card is successfully Summoned or Special Summoned from the hand, I can target one card on the field."
Rikka pointed at the arrogant vampire on the opposing field.
"Destroy it! I destroy your [Vampire Fraulein]!"
The radiant dragon opened its jaws, releasing an overwhelmingly brilliant beam of holy light.
"Now, you won't be able to pay Life Points during damage calculation to boost Attack anymore!" Rikka shouted.
...
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