Who am I?
I'm just a student who's grumpy when he wakes up!
...
Dark didn't answer Vlad's question directly.
Ditto's successful transformation was actually somewhat unexpected for him.
He infused his magic into the [Magic Beast: Ditto] card and quickly received informational feedback.
▼
[Card Name: Magic Beast (Ditto)]
[Type: Spirit Card]
[Level: ★★★★]
[Race: Demon]
[Attribute: Dark]
[MP: 600]
[Attack: ???+200]
[Defense: ???+200]
[Special Move: None]
▲
Clearly, this was not a normal transformation!
Ditto's transformation had always had two modes.
One was a simple change in shape.
The other was the [Transform] skill.
The former allowed it to arbitrarily change into other objects stored in its memory, but it was only a cosmetic change and often incomplete.
The latter could copy a portion of the opponent's data, gaining boosts to attack, defense, and skills, but it could only be used on Magic Guide Spirits and not those of a higher tier than itself.
Initially, Dark had only wanted it to transform into Vlad's likeness, then use a few small tricks to boost its abilities and mentally interfere with Vlad, thereby suppressing him on a tactical level!
That was why he had to appear confident and composed to deceive him.
However, after the transformation began, there was a problem with Ditto's magic cycle!
Originally, all the Magic Guide Spirits in his possession had their information registered in [Paradise]. Once [Paradise] was deployed, they could form an energy cycle with [Paradise] and the other Magic Guide Spirits within it.
The more Magic Guide Spirits there were, the larger the energy cycle, and the more benefits the spirits received.
And when Magic Guide Spirits used their various abilities, they were naturally influenced by this energy cycle.
This was one of the operating mechanisms of a Field Card.
In other words, it was being influenced by the [Paradise] field.
When Ditto used Transform while inside [Paradise], it was subject to this influence.
Or more accurately, it was influenced by the [Haunted House] within [Paradise]!
After obtaining [Paradise], Dark hadn't actually done much research on it, so his understanding of the card was still superficial.
The information that such Magic Guide Cards provide to the Magic Guide Master through magical feedback is actually very basic.
To understand and excavate the card's full potential, one had to conduct repeated experiments and development.
Just like this time.
Dark discovered that while inside the [Haunted House] in [Paradise], abilities like 'Disguise,' 'Mimic,' and 'Transform' would all be amplified to varying degrees!
Extrapolating from this line of thought, it was possible that Undead and Ghost-type Magic Guide Spirits might receive even greater boosts.
In any case, after receiving the buff from the [Haunted House] area, Ditto's [Transform] skill had achieved a breakthrough!
First was the improvement in its versatility.
The target of [Transform] was no longer limited to just 'Magic Guide Spirits.'
With the field's support, Ditto could now copy a portion of data from 'targets other than Magic Guide Spirits'—though this data was likely discounted.
Second was the improvement in its base capabilities.
[Transform] was no longer limited to the same tier and below.
Copying across tiers had become feasible.
However, it could not exceed the data volume of its own tier.
It had merely changed from 'can only copy data up to its own tier's maximum' to 'can only copy data up to the equivalent of its own tier's maximum,' and even then, it wasn't complete!
Take the current situation, for example.
Ditto was currently under the effect of [Lust III], which had raised its star level to four, making it a Tier 2 Magic Guide Spirit.
Normally, it could only copy a portion of the data from a Magic Guide Spirit up to six stars.
But within the [Haunted House], it was able to copy the status data of that vampire—who should be a seven-star—as it was at the six-star level!
This portion of data was rather vague, fluctuating within a certain range and being very unstable.
Just like Ditto's own DNA, it was constantly changing.
Furthermore, it had failed to copy the special move.
This was likely because the [Haunted House]'s ability was not yet perfected.
This point could serve as a development direction for the next version of [Paradise].
...
Dark's mind raced.
Ditto now possessed the attack and defense stats of the vampire at the six-star level, and on top of that, its Magic, Attack, and Defense were each boosted by 200 points due to [Paradise]'s effect.
But it had no special move, and the transformation, completed based on [Lust III], could only last for fifteen minutes.
Those fifteen minutes were the line between life and death!
But in a Magic Guide Duel, fifteen minutes was a full thirty turns.
More than enough!
...
Confidence stems from a precise understanding of one's own strength.
Dark looked up at Vlad, a stack of cards already in his hand.
He fanned the cards out like a peacock's tail.
Then he drew one.
And performed a normal summon.
As smooth as silk!
Under the effect of [Paradise]'s Summoning Time -1s.
In just two seconds, a Magic Guide Spirit appeared by Dark's side.
Ditto's Magic, Attack, and Defense increased by another 100!
Only five seconds later.
The fourth Magic Guide Spirit was successfully summoned.
Then the fifth, the sixth...
All the way until DemiDevimon was sealed in the Curse Cage and then summoned out again.
A total of seven Magic Guide Spirits, including Ditto, were now gathered by Dark's side!
All seven of these Magic Guide Spirits received a boost of +700 to their Magic, Attack, and Defense!
With a slight wave of his hand, Dark had them retreat into the secret chamber behind him—the Haunted House.
The ghost that had been born along with the Haunted House peeked its head out, looking around curiously.
...
Vlad couldn't understand why Dark would summon so many low-level monsters at once.
But he had been genuinely startled by Ditto, so he didn't act rashly.
Little did he know that in that short time, Ditto's MP had already risen to 1100, and its attack and defense stats had very likely surpassed his own!
As the saying goes, one slow step leads to being slow at every step.
He had completely lost all initiative!
And he certainly wouldn't be the one to sound the next horn for attack!
...
"Ditto!"
From the mouth of Ditto (in vampire form) came Ditto's cry.
Dark's expression hardened, and he shouted, "Go!"
Ditto, who was already eager to fight, instantly pushed off with its feet and exploded forward!
Its entire body turned into a red arrow, shooting violently toward the vampire on the ceiling.
The battle began in an instant!
Forced to fight back, Vlad straightened the rapier in his right hand with a flick of his wrist.
He spread his wings and dove like a goshawk, using gravity to accelerate as he met Ditto in a head-on clash!
The moment they first engaged.
Vlad's rapier was caught firmly in Ditto's left hand.
Ditto gripped the blade, yanked it back sharply, and pulled Vlad's body close. Then, it balled its right arm into a fist and slammed it viciously onto Vlad's nose, nearly shattering the bone!
"Argh!"
Vlad let out a pained scream as precious blood streamed from his nose.
He abandoned the rapier entirely as the blood-red cape behind him instantly formed a fist, extending from over his shoulder to smash violently at Ditto.
But Ditto clearly had the upper hand in speed. As it dodged to the side, it even managed to land a punch on Vlad's cheek!
"BOOM!"
Vlad was smashed into the Ferris wheel, and Ditto immediately gave chase.
The two began a brutal, fist-to-flesh brawl on the Ferris wheel!
"This isn't what I wanted!"
Vlad roared in agony.
After just over a minute of fighting, he could no longer hold on.
And at that very moment.
As [Gatomon] was also summoned, Ditto's Magic, Attack, and Defense all increased by another 100!
The power gap between the two widened even further.
Vlad was enduring pain that a noble vampire should never have to suffer. He was losing ground in the battle against 'himself,' and the pressure on him, both physical and psychological, was reaching its peak.
Finally, he could bear it no longer. A flash of magic erupted from his palm.
Two magic circles, spinning in opposite directions, instantly appeared.
He seized the opportunity and thrust his palm violently toward Ditto's chest!
But an instant before he unleashed the attack.
That strange feeling of weakness appeared again.
His strike faltered, and the magic beam he fired had only half its power left!
That meager amount of power only managed to leave a scorch mark on Ditto's chest.
"Ditto?"
Ditto, using Vlad's body, performed an innocent and deadly cute head tilt.
"Damn it!"
Vlad's mental state took another heavy blow.
And in the next instant.
A beam of magic light shot out, slicing viciously across the top of his thigh, leaving a terrifying, bloody wound.
Vlad let out a sharp cry and looked down, only to see a seemingly harmless Magic Guide Spirit just closing its mouth.
It was Eevee using [Mimic]!
With the boost from [Paradise], Eevee was no longer the little cutie who was 'done after one skill.'
It stuck out its tongue, feeling that the aftertaste left from firing a magic beam from its mouth was surprisingly spicy!
Vlad's face turned ashen. He wondered if he had stumbled into some summoner's top-secret base.
Where did all these unheard-of summoned beasts come from?
But Ditto was in the throes of excitement; there was no way it would give him a chance to stop and catch his breath!
Vlad was distracted for just a moment and was sent flying by a punch!
The iron frame of the Ferris wheel was bent and twisted from the impact.
His magic was being constantly consumed by 'High-Speed Regeneration.'
Pain and humiliation strained his nerves.
Vlad's face grew more ferocious, and the red light bursting from his eyes was grim and terrifying.
Suddenly.
The blood-red cape on his back spread wide, and countless bats swarmed out from underneath it.
Before Ditto could react, it was surrounded and bitten by the swarm of bats!
Vlad let out a savage grin.
After two minutes of brawling, he was sure he had found Ditto's weakness!
"At best, it's a human's summoned beast. Even its flaws are identical."
Climbing up from the frame of the Ferris wheel, Vlad took a sharp breath.
The bats formed from his own body possessed fangs as sharp as a vampire's; even the toughest skin couldn't withstand their bites.
The hormones injected into the victim's body through the fangs would paralyze their nerves.
They could not only suck blood but also absorb magic power!
Ditto's mere 1200 MP had already been more than half depleted in the earlier brawl. Now, surrounded and drained by hundreds of bats, it would be sucked dry in no time!
"DemiDevimon!"
Dark called out softly.
DemiDevimon, who had been on standby for a long time, instantly perked up.
Immediately, a dark golden beam of light shone into its forehead.
Having gone from one star to two, DemiDevimon widened its eyes at the sky.
"Devil's Hypnosis!"
A wave of light with hypnotic properties was instantly emitted.
Vlad ducked his head, at first thinking it was some other terrifying and bizarre magic. But after being washed over by the hypnotic wave, he only felt a slight drowsiness and couldn't help but yawn.
Such a trivial effect made him laugh.
However, his eyes suddenly widened as he saw his bat clones falling from the sky like dumplings being dropped into a pot.
"♪♪♪..."
Following that, an Alluring Voice rang out.
A large-area sound wave, manifesting as ripples of water, swept over and pulverized all of the hundreds of fragile bats!
Blood-like stains were left on the ground.
"Ditto!"
Freed from its predicament, Ditto let out an angry cry.
But a small, snow-white shadow suddenly darted past it.
"Cat Claw!"
Gauntlets formed from the copied data of a Golden SaberLeomon instantly tore open Vlad's chest!
The residue of Light attribute energy seared the wound, which was deep enough to see bone.
Gatomon, whose attack stat had been stacked up to 3200, might have been slightly weaker than Vlad in his prime, but dealing with the currently battered and exhausted Vlad was not difficult at all!
It darted and weaved on the Ferris wheel, revealing the side of a ruthless assassin.
Vlad didn't even have time to think before he was forced to flee frantically from his natural enemy of the Light attribute.
And after more than a minute of fleeing, he suddenly discovered that the power of that detestable white cat had surged!
"What in the world is going on?"
He couldn't comprehend it.
Vlad roared madly in his mind.
For the first time, he felt fear toward a human magician.
...
Miltank, which had just been summoned, offered its milk to the already weary Ditto.
Ditto received it like a precious treasure, tilted its head back, and chugged it down in one go!
A powerful vitality immediately flowed through its limbs, and its MP, which had been more than halfway depleted, was almost fully restored.
It let out a few excited cries of thanks, then spread its wings and shot once more toward the fleeing Vlad!
Poor Vlad.
He could barely handle one Magic Guide Spirit; now, facing two working together, he was completely overwhelmed.
If he were a Magic Guide Spirit, he would have likely died from magic depletion by now.
The terrifying life force of a high-ranking vampire still played its part.
No matter how badly beaten he was, he was, after all, still alive.
But being alive now didn't mean he would be alive later.
Vlad could feel the threat of death right before his eyes.
The Grim Reaper's scythe was practically at his neck.
From the pride he had upon his entrance to the fear he felt now, not much time had passed, but Vlad's perspective had been turned completely upside down.
He held on desperately, his spirit stretched to its limit, his mind abnormally active.
I don't want to die!
But how can I survive?
Vlad suddenly erupted with a terrifying fluctuation of magic power. Blood-red lines shot out from his fingers, tearing through the void like blades.
Gatomon and Ditto were instantly forced back.
Vlad's gaze sharpened, and he kicked off with his back foot.
"BOOM!"
With a deafening roar.
The winged vampire, surrounded by scarlet threads, shot like a missile toward the blond-haired boy on the ground!
________________________________________
If you want more chapters, please consider supporting my page on Patreon. with 50 advanced chapters available on Patreon
patreon.com/Leanzin