"Then answer me this! Who's the adorable, irresistibly beautiful girl—even while drunk—that draws every gaze with her flawless charm?"
'That's right, it's me!
On a normal day, Irena waking up with a hangover would absolutely say something that narcissistic.
But this time was different.
What exactly had she done while drunk?
Maybe that mysterious bottle she drank from wasn't just alcohol—it likely had other ingredients mixed in.
Because of that, drunk-Irena had the rare fortune—or misfortune—of remembering everything in perfect detail.
"In front of both Ren and Aisha, what did I even say to Miles? Promises, travel plans... Is this the primal desire of the human heart? Terrifying!"
Complete and vivid memory of the entire drunk incident wasn't a blessing—it was a curse.
"So embarrassing... I don't even know how to face Miles or Aisha anymore. I want to die..."
"Yo, finally sobered up, huh, Irena?"
Deion Kaiser, riding high off his recent duel, greeted her with a bright mood.
Thud!
The next moment, Irena shot to her feet and slammed her head into the wall behind her.
"Oh, guess you're not quite sober after all."
Deion hastily grabbed her to stop her from smashing her skull in further.
"Let go of me! I can't show my face to anyone again!"
"It's not that serious. The duel ended in a draw. It's not like you lost."
He had completely missed the point.
"Your precious underclassman is about to start her duel. Don't you want to see it?"
"Huh? Aisha? ...Then of course I want to watch!"
With her signature witch hat missing, Irena's bouncing ahoge was on full display.
She had already dueled, and Deion was still here. That could only mean Aisha's opponent was Kaima Seth. Even though she claimed she couldn't face Miles or Aisha, there was no way she'd miss this match.
Charging toward the audience stand, she was going to face both of them anyway.
As expected, the Millennium Puzzle Ren had worn was now back with Aisha. Watching the switching of souls across the Duel Arena, Irena felt conflicted—but also excited.
"Miles and Aisha... just how much of a threat can you two pose to Kaima? I have to see it."
On the Duel Arena, Kaima loaded her Deck into her Spirit Eyes. A white dragon soul shimmered faintly behind her.
Though he'd seen Kaima duel before, this was Miles' first time standing opposite her.
That overpowering aura made it impossible to tell she was even the same age. Facing her felt like facing a beast.
"Aisha Carlos," Kaima began, "you should understand what this duel represents."
"A revenge match, right? Just like the Duke said yesterday. Regardless, whether you get that revenge or not depends on our strength, Kaima."
Unlike Aisha's nervous bravado the day before, Miles responded calmly.
"Hmph?"
Kaima was caught off guard by his composed attitude—so different from Aisha's demeanor yesterday.
"I admit, you've gotten stronger over the past six months. Even so, this duel is to wash away the Seth family's disgrace. No matter how you try, you can't win. I won't allow it."
"Disgrace? Kevin didn't seem to feel that way. Seems to me you're just fulfilling your family's expectations."
"There's no point talking—you can't possibly understand the weight of my duty!"
Even before the duel started, the tension was palpable. Miles had sensed Kaima's strict adherence to family duty since Luca's trial.
[Kaima, LP: 4000]
[Aisha, LP: 4000]
"Duel!"
Spirit Eyes glowed—Miles had the first turn.
He frowned. The duel intensity wasn't the issue—going first against Kaima was. If she had Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon and De-Fusion in her opening, she could OTK him.
Aisha said, "Use that card, Miles!"
"Exactly what I was thinking, Aisha."
He Set a monster in face-down Defense, followed by three face-down cards.
"I Set one monster, and three cards."
Classic 1-set-3-backrow setup—his way to avoid a Blue-Eyes Ultimate OTK.
He wasn't relying on Trap Cards to stop it either. Aisha's Traps wouldn't be enough to block something of that scale.
"Kaima Seth, this card is perfect for you."
With two cards still in hand, Miles activated a Spell Card.
"Spell Card: Exchange!"
The infamous Exchange. Aisha's first created Spell Card—and the very one that beat Kevin Seth six months ago.
Now Miles was wielding it with perfect timing.
[Both players reveal their hands and add 1 card from each other's hand to their hand.]
"Let's both show our hands, Kaima."
Promptly, Miles flipped his last card.
[Mokey Mokey]
The only option Kaima could choose.
Meanwhile, Miles got to see Kaima's full five-card hand and pick whichever he wanted.
"Tch."
Kaima clicked her tongue and revealed her hand with elegantly slender fingers. The moment her hand was shown, not only Miles—but the entire audience—gasped.
Three Blue-Eyes White Dragons. Fusion. And one Assault Wyvern.
Three-of-a-kind Blue-Eyes with Fusion was enough to get Miles praying for a judge.
What? No judge in this world?
Technically, the Duelists' Spirit Eyes were the judges.
Any illegal actions were automatically blocked—like not shuffling. If you didn't shuffle, Spirit Eyes would shuffle for you.
So here's the problem.
Aisha stammered, "U-uhh... which one should I take, Miles? Maybe just grab a Blue-Eyes?"
'Hmm… Trying to swipe someone else's dragon wife already? Impressive, Aisha.'
"No."
Miles pointed firmly.
"I choose your Fusion Spell."
Stealing Kaima's Blue-Eyes would look glorious—but with no way to Summon it, it was worthless.
Meanwhile, if Kaima kept Polymerization, she could easily use her remaining two Blue-Eyes for another Fusion Monster.
"..."
Kaima frowned.
After the exchange, Miles gained Polymerization, and Kaima got Mokey Mokey.
With no Fusion Spell, Kaima's hand of triple high-level monsters became a dead hand.
She couldn't even Summon a single Blue-Eyes.
Aisha shouted, excited, "Nice one, Miles! Super scummy—but effective!"
"It's called smart play. Turn end."
No OTKs now. Even if Kaima top-decked a second Polymerization, without De-Fusion, she couldn't execute a full combo.
"My turn. Draw!"
Kaima's tone was frosty. Her white fingertips drew from her Spirit Eyes.
"Spell Card: Graceful Charity!"
She drew 3 and discarded 2. A forbidden-tier draw engine.
"I discard Mokey Mokey and Blue-Eyes White Dragon."
Poor Mokey Mokey—discarded within 30 seconds of arriving.
Aisha muttered, "Mokey Mokey is adorable... she just doesn't get it."
Kaima then summoned the monster she revealed earlier.
"I Normal Summon in Attack Position—Assault Wyvern!"
[Assault Wyvern] Level 4│LIGHT│Dragon│1800 ATK
A respectable Level 4 attacker, it took the field with crystal wings blazing.
"Battle! Assault Wyvern, destroy the face-down monster—Blade Wing Slash!"
Slicing through Miles' set card—
[Clear Kuriboh, DEF: 200] destroyed.
The tiny purple Kuriboh offered no resistance and was sent to the Graveyard.
"I'm not done."
Kaima raised her hand.
"Assault Wyvern's effect: If it destroys a monster in battle, I can Tribute it to Special Summon a Dragon from my hand or Graveyard!"
Still in the Battle Phase, the wyvern vanished into light. From its glow came a roar and a flash of pure white—
"Revive from the Grave, my Blue-Eyes White Dragon!!"
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon] Level 8│LIGHT│Dragon│3000 ATK
The legend descended.
"Direct attack—Burst Stream of Destruction!!"
3000 points of raw destruction—blasting toward Miles' empty field.
Then—an open door swallowed the attack.
"Thanks for that. Trap Card activate—Counter Gate!"
[When your opponent declares a direct attack: Negate the attack, then draw 1 card. If it's a Monster, you can Normal Summon it in face-up Attack Position.]
"Attack negated. I draw one card!"
Glancing at the card, Miles threw it down.
"It's a Monster—I Normal Summon in Attack Position: Relinkuriboh!"
[Relinkuriboh] Level 1│DARK│Fiend│300 ATK
With most of Aisha's Deck now Kuribohs, Miles had no idea what he'd draw next—but at least Kuribohs were better than useless Normals.
"More weaklings?" Kaima sneered.
Two turns in, and the crowd was already murmuring.
Too weak.
Mokey Mokey. Kuribohs. All of Aisha's monsters so far were jokes. Compared to the explosive power of the previous matches, they looked even worse.
"Did she really beat Kevin Seth with this?"
"No way that wasn't just dumb luck."
"Tch. You clueless clowns dare mock our Duel? Laughable. I end my turn."
Miles and Aisha were used to being underestimated. Though shockingly, Kaima had stepped up to defend them.
"Kaima..."
"Your turn, Aisha Carlos. You did beat Kevin. Don't let these fools belittle you. Show them your real strength."
"Hah... still worried about your family's reputation? Fine. My turn! Draw!"
The Deck responded. The strongest single-Attack monster in the Deck was now in hand:
[Summoned Skull]
Before, with Relinkuriboh on the field, she'd instantly Tribute Summon it.
However, not this time.
2500 ATK was enough for Red-Eyes, but not for Blue-Eyes.
To beat Blue-Eyes, she needed what she took from Kaima: Polymerization.
"If even Megan could do it, then I sure can."
Miles threw his Fusion card into the air, tossing Summoned Skull with it.
"Spell Card: Polymerization! I fuse Summoned Skull from my hand with Relinkuriboh on the field!"
Dark lightning split the skies. The fused demon took shape before the legendary dragon.
"Let thunder and darkness fuse—let my devil's form rise! Fusion Summon—Archfiend's Manifestation!"
[Archfiend's Manifestation] Level 6│DARK│Fiend│2500 ATK
[Summoned Skull + 1 DARK monster]
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going!
[Patreon.com/RedZTL]