"The final turn?"
"When neither side has really taken any damage yet?"
Silver Meteor frowned, clearly doubtful.
After all, his monster couldn't be destroyed by battle or effects, couldn't be targeted, and had high enough Attack. There was no way it would be defeated so easily.
"My turn. Draw."
When Celina saw the card she drew, her expression softened slightly. Her irritation at "your luck isn't bad" gradually faded.
"Hmph. Watch the alchemy I've inherited from my master."
"What?"
"I activate the Spell Card, Fusion Recycling Plant!"
Hearing the name, Silver Meteor's eyes widened.
'Damn it!!!'
This was the Field Spell Amaki Hikaru often used for Fusion!
A Field Spell Card!
Stars scattered. In the sky, the fortress hovering above slowly began to drift upward, as if returning to the cosmos.
Only one Field Spell can exist at a time. When a new one is activated, the previous is destroyed!
This was one of the easiest ways to wipe his field!
And as the Fusion Recycling Plant transformed the surroundings into a fusion processing facility, Celina smiled brightly.
She hadn't mastered alchemy, but Amaki had given her a few spare Spell and Trap Cards, helping her tune her Deck.
"With this, your Big Core can now be targeted by effects, and can also be destroyed by effects."
Not only that, both monsters' Attack returned to their original values.
Even if it attacked Lunalight Cat Dancer now, it wouldn't deal much damage.
"It's not over yet. I activate Fusion Recycling Plant's effect! By discarding Jabbing Panda from my hand, I add Polymerization from my Deck to my hand."
Unlike Amaki Hikaru, who used Fusion Recycling Plant for long-term sustain, Celina didn't run as many Fusion-related Spells and Traps. Her goal with this card was to increase the odds of drawing Polymerization.
"Next, I activate the Spell Card, Luna Light Perfume. It lets me revive one Lunalight monster from the Graveyard."
"I Special Summon Lunalight Crimson Fox from the Graveyard."
A red fox girl in a super-short skirt appeared, stretching under the moonlight.
[Lunalight Crimson Fox] Level 4│DARK│Beast-Warrior│1800 ATK
"Finally—the Spell Card, Polymerization!"
Excitement shone on Celina's face.
This card had been obtained after witnessing Amaki's Duel with the Dark World at the Skyscraper Dimension.
She had met other Dark World spirits since then, though unfortunately none of them were like that martial god who summoned swarms of monsters. She hadn't been able to make use of the card's full potential.
However, this time was different.
Her opponent's Deck focused on resistance to battle destruction and swarming the field!
That day, Amaki Hikaru had coached her live. She hadn't had a chance to put it into practice until now.
"I fuse Lunalight Crimson Fox with Lunalight Cat Dancer on the field!"
The two monsters joined hands in midair, spinning gracefully.
"Fusion materials: Lunalight Cat Dancer and one Lunalight monster!"
"Beautiful beast dancing beneath the moonlight, form a vortex under lunar gravity, and be reborn with new power!"
Clasping her hands, Celina swung them downward.
"Fusion Summon!"
"Come forth, Graceful beast who dances upon the Lunalight field:
"Lunalight Panther Dancer!"
Clear and crisp, the sound of bells rang out.
A dark-skinned wild girl with covered eyes landed under the moon, stepping in rhythm.
"Hehe~"
[Lunalight Panther Dancer] Level 8│DARK│Beast-Warrior│2800 ATK
"2800 Attack…" Still within tolerance.
"Effect of Lunalight Crimson Fox in the Graveyard! When sent to the Graveyard by a card effect, target one face-up monster your opponent controls. Its Attack becomes 0 until the end of the turn!"
Hearing that, Silver Meteor's eyes shot open.
'Oh no…'
A "screen-clearing bomb"!
"I target B.E.S. Big Core MK-3!"
The elegant red fox girl appeared above the warship, and in that moment, like a skilled spy, she disabled its defense system.
[B.E.S. Big Core MK-3, ATK: 2700 → 0]
If the attack went through, he'd be left with only 200 LP!
"And there's more—Panther Dancer inherits Cat Dancer's effect, and takes it further!
Once per turn, during the Main Phase, it can attack all your monsters twice, and one monster you control is protected from battle destruction this turn!"
Silver Meteor gaped.
No tribute cost to activate it!
He actually lost—to a freshman younger than himself!?
"Battle! Panther Dancer attacks MK-3!"
Boom—Panther Dancer clawed into the warship's core and casually tore it apart.
[Silver Meteor, LP: 3000 → 200]
"Once more!"
The panther girl shredded the fallen warship, which then crashed down on Silver Meteor, burying him.
"Ghh—Ah?"
"She actually defeated our Obelisk Blue's top freshman?"
"I-I thought she only became class rep because of connections—"
Some students finally broke the silence.
Because of her background and age, Celina had never been recognized by peers. Especially after the Fusion Army incident, she had been completely looked down on.
But today's brief Duel proved one fact:
Celina truly deserved her title as "class representative"!
Celina quietly raised her fist.
It seemed she was finally getting there—finally gaining the recognition her master once earned.
Even so, it wasn't enough!
She had to keep going.
Then, she turned to look at Silver Meteor.
Though it was an excuse, she did genuinely want to know where her father was.
She hadn't expected this, though.
As the Duel ended, Silver Meteor lay on the ground, holding his head, muttering groggily:
"Where… am I?"
She bit her lip lightly, then turned and walked away, heading in the direction Amaki Hikaru had left.
At the same time—
Inside the Society of Light—
"Where… am I?"
A voice echoed in Amaki Hikaru's ears. He noticed Princess Rose lying by the wall, clutching her forehead in pain, as if trying to remember something.
Nearby, Aster, clothes stained with blood and looking weary, greeted him.
It seemed he had already taken care of the guards.
"Heh, looks like you had the same idea, Minister," Aster said, forcing a smile.
"Aster, you sure you're okay like that? Maybe sit down for a bit," Hikaru pointed to a chair.
"No—time is tight," he coughed twice.
'Time, huh?'
Hikaru nodded slightly.
Looks like his hunch was right. Sartorius really did need time and manpower for something.
Just as the two were about to move forward, a voice stopped them.
"Please wait."
A girl in shrine maiden robes descended gently from upstairs.
Sartorius' sister!
Sarina!