Meanwhile.
The "Scavenging Slime" and the three "Gifts" on the field all dissolved into light, merging with the radiance shooting out from the Magic Guide Card in Tom Nixon's hand, sketching out an extraordinarily complex Sacrificial Summoning array.
As one of the standouts among the third-years, Tom Nixon's deck possessed a thoroughly complete system.
Were it not for the sheer strength of Dark Demon's Magic Guide Spirits, which had kept him from ever triggering "Predator's Gift," he could have deployed two second-tier, six-star Magic Guide Spirits onto the field at blazing speed.
But a Magic Guide duel is precisely about how a duelist adapts under unknown circumstances.
And adapt he had, gaining the upper hand over Dark Demon in terms of top-end power—if not for that sword!
In Tom Nixon's view, though every one of Dark Demon's Magic Guide Spirits was extraordinarily peculiar, the most troublesome of all was, unsurprisingly, that sword that was both an Equipment Card and a Magic Guide Spirit Card!
If Dark Demon hadn't drawn like a god at the opening, leading with the "Honedge," he might already be up on the podium collecting his award by now!
—At least, that was what he believed.
But regardless, the duel had indeed dragged on to the tenth round, and thankfully he had still succeeded in summoning the strongest six-star Magic Guide Spirit in his hand!
A six-star Magic Guide Spirit even more powerful than the "Blood Moon Demon Wolf"!
"Come forth! Half-Blood Witch!"
[Card Name: Half-Blood Witch]
[Type: Spirit Card]
[Level: ??????]
[Race: Demi-human Species]
[Attribute: Fairy]
[Magic: 3000]
[Attack: 2000]
[Defense: 2000]
[Ultimate Moves: Eagle Magic, Cat Magic, Dragon Magic]
This six-star Magic Guide Spirit Card, so utterly out of place within his deck, had been forcibly crammed into it for one simple reason: it was just too strong.
On the surface its stats weren't outrageous—compared to powerful six-star Magic Guide Spirits, its attack and defense were even lacking.
But the "Half-Blood Witch's" three Ultimate Moves more than made up for that.
Tom Nixon's "Half-Blood Witch" was clearly not making its first appearance; the audience recognized it to a considerable degree.
As this "Half-Blood Witch" emerged, a wave of noise rose in response, a testament to its high popularity.
The "Half-Blood Witch" appeared on the "Blood Platform" with a proud bearing, a set of black robes clinging to her body, her face beneath a pointed hat painted thick with greasepaint so that her true features could not be made out.
"Eagle Magic!"
At Tom Nixon's shout, the "Half-Blood Witch" suddenly flung open both arms, and from within her sleeves a great mass of pitch-black feathers gushed out, whirling around her whole body.
Amid the swirling feathers, the "Half-Blood Witch's" arms turned into wings, a beak grew from her face, and as she beat her wings and soared high, she had become a black eagle!
This was the "Half-Blood Witch's" "Eagle Magic."
Having completed the transformation, the "Half-Blood Witch's" three stats of magic, attack, and defense shifted drastically as well.
Magic dropped from 3000 to 2000, attack rose from 2000 to 3500, and defense fell from 2000 to 1500.
A full 3500 points of attack—entirely a value only a seven-star Magic Guide Spirit could reach.
"Strike them down! Eagle Witch!"
...
The "Eagle Witch" swooped down ferociously.
The "Confusion" that Espeon attempted to block with was shattered in but an instant.
Flying low, the "Eagle Witch" charged straight at the red side's Magic Sphere without the slightest deviation.
But the Miltank that had been guarding the Magic Sphere suddenly dissolved into light at that very moment—Dark Demon's Sacrificial Summoning had also been completed smoothly.
Yet the timing was clearly not good enough.
Fortunately a black shadow flickered, and Black Gatomon, wielding the "Honedge," abruptly appeared in the "Eagle Witch's" flight path.
A sharp gleam flashed atop the "Eagle Witch's" pointed beak as she pressed on, fearless.
Black Gatomon swung a slash from the front, and it collided violently with the "Eagle Witch's" beak.
A fierce gale swept Black Gatomon's feet from under it; it couldn't withstand the "Eagle Witch's" impact, and even the damage remaining after the offset still slammed into its body, sending its already insufficient magic plunging once more.
But as it was flung backward, a gentle force appeared behind it, catching it just in time.
A flicker of unwillingness showed on Black Gatomon's face as it reached out and grabbed the milk carried over by "Confusion," flicked open the cap, and gulped it down in one go.
As the milk went down its throat, a warm current welled up, flowing to its every limb and bone.
Black Gatomon's magic value recovered to more than half.
Meanwhile, on the other side, having knocked Black Gatomon flying, the "Eagle Witch" had struck nothing but air.
That red side's Magic Sphere had abruptly taken flight under the control of Espeon's "Confusion," and then Dark successfully picked it up, "catching" the Magic Sphere.
At the same time, Gatomon leapt out from the Sacrificial Summoning array and reached out a hand toward Black Gatomon.
Black Gatomon's expression instantly stiffened, and the hand gripping the "Honedge" couldn't help but tighten a few degrees more.
But the Honedge suddenly let out a hum, and to its shock began struggling in its grasp.
Black Gatomon's face went ashen at once, and in resignation it forcefully hurled the "Honedge" away.
"Clang!"
The sound of the "Honedge" trembling was unusually joyful.
Gatomon didn't move in the slightest, yet the sword's hilt spontaneously fell into its palm.
Grasping the "Holy Sword," it cast a sidelong glance at Leomon, who was still resisting the "Parasitic Demon Seed," gave a faint cold snort, and unleashed the holy power within the "Honedge."
Snow-white light shone upon Leomon; its expression eased slightly, but the madness in its eyes remained.
Gatomon then sighed a little and turned its gaze toward the "Eagle Witch."
But after its failed strike, the "Eagle Witch" had already landed and in a blink transformed into the "Cat Witch."
Then it abruptly opened its cat mouth and spat out a blazing flame magic array.
From within this flame magic array, flames burst forth.
Gatomon, gripping the sword forehand, cut down in a straight line—and cleaved the flames apart in midair!
But immediately after, flame after flame came shooting rapidly at it.
Gatomon's brow arched; it exerted force in an instant, and the whole cat began sprinting swiftly, dodging the magic flames that chased hot on its heels.
That black cat, transformed from the "Half-Blood Witch," had shifted its three stats back to being magic-focused; for now, aside from the stat change, its only apparent alteration was gaining the ability to spew magic flames.
The power of these magic flames could only be counted as ordinary, but it seemed to have no cooldown?
Gatomon dashed at high speed, thinking rapidly.
Braving the continuous barrage of magic flames, it forced its way close to the "Cat Witch's" position.
And then, the very instant it closed in, the "Cat Witch" transformed yet again!
From a smaller black cat it changed into a bloated black dragon whose head towered above the contestant's platform; covered in black scales, the "Dragon Witch" slammed down viciously at Gatomon!
"BOOM!"
In the nick of time Gatomon dodged the dragon claw's assault, and the "Holy Sword" it swung effortlessly pierced through the "Dragon Witch's" defense of three thousand points.
It had triggered the Holy Sword's "low-probability defense-ignoring" trait!
With three thousand points of magic, thirty-five hundred points of attack, and three thousand points of defense, the "Dragon Witch" had gained a body as tough as a mountain—but at the cost of weakened movement speed.
Its movement had become relatively slow, appearing exceedingly clumsy before Gatomon.
Add to that the triggering of the "low-probability defense-ignoring" trait, and the "Holy Sword" instantly pierced through the thick dragon scales and plunged into the relatively fragile flesh within.
Holy light erupted abruptly inside its body, dealing the "Dragon Witch" an utterly unexpected fatal blow!
Empowered by the "Holy Ring" and the "Honedge," this single strike, with an attack as high as 3600 points, actually cut down the "Dragon Witch" in one blow!
"Rumble!"
As the black dragon toppled, Tom Nixon was even still calmly contemplating his tactics for the next round.
No one could have imagined that this black dragon, with a defense as high as three thousand points, would prove so utterly powerless before that Holy Sword!
The astonished cries of the commentators and the audience rang out across the entire venue.
In the audience seats along the ring-shaped strip, Virt Gold found himself recalling a familiar scene.
Back then in the dungeon, the Holy Sword he had summoned with the "Holy Sword Spell" had seemingly triggered a similar trait, ignoring an opponent's defense to deal it a piercing blow!
But this was the Holy Sword.
The weapon most adept at creating miracles!
...
"Impossible!"
As the "Dragon Witch" crashed down with a thunderous roar, even Tom Nixon's shout carried a tremor.
His gaze swept hurriedly across his hand, trying to find a Magic Guide Card that could salvage the situation.
But if such a card had truly existed, he would have used it long ago.
That white cat standing beside the black dragon's corpse left him utterly unable to comprehend.
And Gatomon, having delivered this "divine sword strike," was inwardly dumbfounded, yet its posture as it sheathed the sword was as composed as ever.
...
In the red side's half of the arena.
Espeon, growing ever more listless from having unleashed too many "Confusions," seized the moment while Tom Nixon was stunned, and its Confusion, flowing like water, suddenly swept up the blue side's Magic Sphere and dragged it downward.
"Thud!"
The sound of the blue Magic Sphere striking the "Blood Platform" jolted Tom awake; he flicked his fingers, and a vast surge of magic instantly erupted, yanking the Magic Sphere back.
"Grit..."
Espeon called out softly, having no choice but to withdraw its Confusion and bide its time for another opening.
And Black Gatomon, lacking any aerial-strike ability, could only stand in front of the red side's Magic Sphere and honestly play the goalkeeper.
The tenth round drew near its end.
Dark Demon's Summoning cooldown had at last finished; he reached out to touch "Fusion," yet did not act rashly, instead shifting his fingers onto the Magic Guide Card of the "Honedge."
Gatomon felt the faint tremor along the blade and, without hesitation, flung out a single sword strike.
This Holy Sword, wrapped in immense power, pierced through the "Blood Platform" in an instant, shooting toward the blue side's Magic Sphere that Tom Nixon had forcibly seized.
"Thorn Spell!"
In the critical moment, Tom Nixon abruptly triggered one of the Magic Cards in his hand.
This "Thorn Spell," only drawn on the tenth round, had originally been meant to protect the "Half-Blood Witch" and turn the tide.
But the "Half-Blood Witch" had died far too quickly!
He hadn't even been mentally prepared to use the "Thorn Spell."
Triggered now, a patch of green thorns instantly appeared beneath the blue Magic Sphere, and a mysterious force was released from within this thorn barrier.
The instant the "Honedge" pierced the thorn barrier, under the effect of that force, it forcibly reversed its blade and shot back down toward below!
Gatomon's brow furrowed at once; it flashed back a step, dodging the path of the "Honedge" ricocheting back.
As the "Honedge" shot back before it, Gatomon lifted a hand slightly, catching the rapidly falling hilt, then pressed down along its momentum, altering the trajectory of the blade. As if in perfect telepathy, it spun around into a Swords Dance, borrowing the force to redirect it, and hurled the "Honedge" out once more!
Coordinated with its shifting footwork, Gatomon's swordplay was exceptionally graceful.
That Holy Sword flew forth, carrying even greater power, and in an instant broke through the remnants of the "Thorn Spell" lingering in the air.
This time it struck the blue side's Magic Sphere without the slightest suspense.
"Thud!"
In the critical moment Tom Nixon caused the blue Magic Sphere to veer aside, but the incoming Holy Sword still shattered the Life Barrier it touched to pieces!
[Magic (Blue): 3444-1314]
With only 1314 points of magic remaining, the Life Barrier had grown exceedingly dim.
Tom Nixon's face went pale as he violently poured in magic to send the blue Magic Sphere retreating at high speed.
But even as he performed this maneuver, he had already vaguely sensed despair.
Gatomon's "divine sword strike."
The sudden, abrupt death of the "Half-Blood Witch."
It had left him utterly defenseless.
Since even his final "Thorn Spell" had failed to catch the opponent off guard and turn the tables, this duel had completely lost any possibility of reversal.
Although the tenth round's countdown had long since ended, if he couldn't even spare three seconds of summoning time, then even if he drew a reversal card from his deck, what use would it be?
Tom Nixon's gaze drifted toward that sword soaring into the sky, and sure enough he saw its form begin to change—the single eye on its guard suddenly opened, transforming it into the form of a Magic Guide Spirit!
The "Putrid Curse," while suppressing the "Honedge," had also been devouring its magic.
Though the "Honedge" had now dispelled the "Putrid Curse," its remaining magic was already very limited, making it hard to trade blows head-on with a Magic Guide Spirit.
But if it was merely hunting down a Magic Sphere, that was more than enough.
And the blue side's Magic Sphere's remaining magic was no longer sufficient to withstand even a single strike.
Tom Nixon simply could not stop his incantation.
...
On the red side's contestant platform.
Dark Demon flipped through his own hand, suppressing the urge to "gild the lily," and did not use "Fusion."
Although Gatomon could fuse-evolve with Black Gatomon into "Bastemon," the evolution would simultaneously cost it the resonance with the Holy Sword.
Therefore adopting fusion evolution was in fact a choice with both pros and cons, one requiring careful consideration.
As for his other cards...
Dark drew two Magic Guide Cards from his hand.
One was the "Blink Spell," the other the "Wishful Die."
The former could help the "Honedge" complete the final kill at a critical moment.
The latter... could provide some fun!
Having drawn the "Wishful Die" many times during duel matches, it wasn't as though Dark had never thought of having some fun.
But facing a strong third-year opponent, he in fact had little leeway to spare.
He simply never expected that in this final championship match, he would actually find that "leeway."
Tom Nixon no longer had any Magic Guide Spirit on the field, and as for his hand—
Though Dark couldn't see his cards, since he'd even played a Spell Card like the "Thorn Spell," he had most likely already thrown out all his trump cards.
In truth, had Gatomon not responded properly, the "Thorn Spell" would have been genuinely troublesome.
Dark's eyes flickered slightly, and in the end he still gave up the idea of having fun during the match.
"Honedge, end the match!"
"Clang!"
Sensing his trust, the Honedge suddenly swung its scabbard, and in flight it actually accelerated once more, catching up in the blink of an eye to the blue Magic Sphere under Tom Nixon's control.
Tom Nixon's face went ashen.
But Dark Demon suddenly flicked out the "Wishful Die."
At the very instant the blue Magic Sphere's Life Barrier shattered completely.
At the very instant its magic hit zero and the referee's whistle sounded, declaring the victor decided.
Dark successfully completed the summoning of the "Wishful Die."
"As I wish, as I wish, follow my will—show yourself at once!"
A white die engraved with eighteen symbols of different colors appeared before Espeon.
Espeon stared blankly for a good while, then, unable to hold back, lifted a paw pad and gave the die a flick.
After all, it was a Magic Guide Spirit equivalent to the Magic Guide Master "himself."
With that one flick, Espeon successfully triggered the "Wishful Die."
Dark was instantly overjoyed.
At the final moment, a flash of inspiration had struck him, an idea had come to mind, and, truly unable to resist, he had timed it just right to give it a try.
Espeon's Ultimate Move, "Magic Mirror," could nullify most transformation-type Ultimate Moves and even reflect them back.
If Espeon was the one to trigger the "Wishful Die," then there was no need at all to worry about being backlashed by a transformation-type Ultimate Move.
Thinking it over carefully like this, the "Wishful Die" was practically Espeon's exclusive item!
"Ding!"
When everything had settled and cheers erupted from the audience seats, the "Wishful Die" began spinning at high speed, the attribute symbols on its eighteen faces lighting up one after another, white and black radiance interweaving, eighteen hues of colored light rotating and shining, dreamily exquisite.
"The victor is decided! Though the duel was full of ups and downs, but..."
Zach Wilson was just about to announce the winner when his expression suddenly froze, noticing the "neon lights" on the field.
The audience's cheers gradually subsided as well, and countless gazes fell upon the "Wishful Die" still moving in the arena, all of them showing curiosity.
Even Tom Nixon, whose face was extremely grim, couldn't help but look over.
The "Wishful Die" abruptly stopped, and of its eighteen faces' attribute symbols only one remained lit—still the Normal-type.
"BOOM!"
Immediately after, the "Wishful Die" burst into a cloud of smoke.
Then a burst of fireworks shot skyward from within the smoke, exploding violently in the air and releasing a shower of colorful sparks.
Then a second burst, a third...
All manner of ribbons and fireworks surged into the sky, illuminating the slightly darkened heavens ablaze with light.
Brilliant, colorful fireworks bloomed without end, the atmosphere of celebration and joy maxing out in an instant.
Dark was stunned for a moment, then abruptly realized what skill this was.
He couldn't help but reveal a composed, elegant smile, and beneath the glow of the fireworks he bowed slightly toward the audience, then suddenly flung open his arms and celebrated: "Happy Easter!"
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