"—Roar, First of the Dragons!"
[First of the Dragons] Level 9│DARK│Dragon│2700 ATK
Materials: 2 Normal Monsters
The ancient roar shattered the Dragon's Mirror, and from its broken surface soared the majestic and towering First of the Dragons. Its overwhelming presence resonated with the students in the audience.
Though Fusion Summoning First of the Dragons using two Mokey Mokeys was shocking enough, its mere presence caused an even bigger stir among the students of Fusion Academy.
This was Aisha's first time Fusion Summoning First of the Dragons in a public event like the Academy Festival.
And none of the students could forget the first time they'd seen that mountain-sized Dragon—during the secret night duel on the back mountain, when a mysterious Duelist clashed with the God Slifer the Sky Dragon.
The legendary Duelist said to have fought a God was none other than the timid girl Aisha Yuna Carlos.
"Aisha... she was the Duelist who fought a God?!"
With the arrival of First of the Dragons, the truth that had been veiled was now exposed.
It confirmed that Aisha Yuna Carlos standing on the stage against Kaima Seth wasn't just there due to insider favoritism or luck.
"She didn't just steal my [Dragon's Mirror]—she used it during the Battle Phase to fuse those weak monsters into that First of the Dragons! Aisha Carlos, you really did it."
Kaima wasn't concerned about whether Aisha had fought Gods—he only cared about the outcome of this Duel.
No doubt, this was her trump card.
Special Summoned during the Battle Phase, the First of the Dragons on an empty Field could now launch a direct attack to end the Duel.
"Aisha, I admit—no, I have to admit… that your defiance of weakness has brought you to a place fate was never supposed to let you reach. You're strong. Very strong!"
"Kaima..."
Miles didn't rush into the final blow. In this Duel where fate and strength clashed, both Duelists seemed to sense each other's souls.
And the more clearly he felt Kaima's Duelist soul, the more Miles understood why Kevin said Kaima was so rigid.
Kaima was the most difficult opponent Miles had ever faced. Even now, Kaima calmly flipped his final Set card, holding tight to his fate as one born to be strong.
"Too bad, Aisha Carlos. Like I said before the Duel—for the sake of the Seth family, I can't lose! And for the Carlos family, you can't win! Continuous Trap Card, activate: [Birthright]!"
[Activate by targeting 1 Normal Monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it in Attack Position. When this card leaves the Field, destroy that monster. When that monster leaves the Field, destroy this card.
Kaima bit his pale finger, drawing blood, and slashed it through the air, leaving a crimson arc.
It was as if this gesture was his way of solidifying his beliefs to the very end.
"Blood and destiny are not so easily overturned. Even if you've come this far, Aisha Carlos, you're still one step short. This is the unchangeable bloodline of fate! Rise, Blue-Eyes White Dragon—true heir of birthright!"
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon, ATK: 3000]
With its head raised high, the revived Blue-Eyes roared proudly through the Duel Arena. It seemed to declare the pride of noble blood with a card.
Just as Miles had repeatedly brought down Blue-Eyes using lowly monsters,
Blue-Eyes could also be revived again and again.
In the end, nothing changed.
Blue-Eyes White Dragon remained a terrifying monster with 3000 Attack, capable of crushing nearly anything.
And Aisha had nearly run out of strength.
Kaima said sternly, "Too bad, Aisha Carlos. Your final Fusion Monster, First of the Dragons, only has 2700 ATK—no match for Blue-Eyes. You've reached your limit, but it still falls short of mine."
"Still short... huh."
Eyes narrowing, Miles lowered his arm and dimmed the glow of his Spirit Eyes, hearing the cry of Kaima's soul.
No cards in hand, no Set cards, and even First of the Dragons couldn't stand against Blue-Eyes.
"I end my turn."
To most observers, that seemed like the end of Aisha Yuna Carlos's fight.
"So it's hopeless. No matter what, she can't beat my brother?"
Kevin gritted his teeth, frustrated. He hated to admit defeat. He hated that just when it seemed like Kaima could be changed, that hope was snuffed out.
Even so, he couldn't say a word to blame Aisha.
Having inherited the will of heroes and black dragons, she had already fought to a level that earned everyone's respect against the fully serious Kaima Seth.
"This pointless struggle ends here, Aisha Carlos! My turn, draw!"
His final draw—backed by conviction and bonds, Kaima declared his victory.
"Quick-Play Spell Card, activate: [Silver's Cry]!"
[Target 1 Dragon-Type Normal Monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it.]
"Roar again! Second Blue-Eyes White Dragon, rise!"
Kaima Seth, the Duelist who could always summon Blue-Eyes in a thousand ways, drew the ultimate despairing card.
"Battle! Destroy [First of the Dragons]—'Final Burst Stream of Destruction!'"
An eruption of light thundered across the field. Though immune to effect destruction and able to endure even a God's blow, First of the Dragons could not stand up to a Normal Monster's raw strength.
[Aisha Carlos, LP: 500 → 200]
"Now, my final direct attack! This Duel is mine, Aisha Yuna Carlos!"
As Kaima's roar of victory and dignity echoed, the massive Burst Stream blew toward Miles head-on.
"So this unreachable destiny... I finally caught up to it!"
Suddenly, Aisha's green eyes lit up like emeralds, shining brightly in the face of the incoming destructive white light.
The brilliance in her eyes was proof of defiance—only those who dared stare down Blue-Eyes' direct attack could possess it.
"When you declare a direct attack—Clear Kuriboh's effect activates from my Graveyard!"
It had already been used once and banished, but thanks to Kaima's [Dimension Fusion], it returned and was later sent to the Graveyard again.
That twist allowed Miles to activate Clear Kuriboh's effect a second time in the same Duel.
"I draw one card from my Deck. If it's a Monster Card, I can Special Summon it and redirect Blue-Eyes' attack to it!"
"Another Kuriboh?!" Kaima's emotions were mixed. Kuribohs had plagued him this entire Duel. "It's just a weak Level 1 piece of trash!"
When you're in despair, never forget to call upon—Kuriboh!
"Draw!"
A last-chance card appeared. Miles flipped it—a Monster with shining white angel wings descended into the white blast.
"I Special Summon [Winged Kuriboh] in Defense Position, then redirect the attack!"
[Winged Kuriboh] Level 1│LIGHT│Fairy│200 DEF
The adorable light-attribute Kuriboh with tiny angel wings stood in front of Miles with its tiny frame.
"Another Kuriboh? These trash monsters won't change the outcome!"
"You're wrong, Kaima. Even if Kuribohs are weak, when the weak unite and believe in hope, they can create miracles! From my Graveyard—[Relinkuriboh]'s effect activates!"
[If a monster you control would be destroyed by battle, you can banish this card from your Graveyard instead.]
"I banish [Relinkuriboh] to prevent [Winged Kuriboh] from being destroyed!"
The triple Kuriboh combo that had driven Kaima mad successfully stopped Blue-Eyes' final assault and left Winged Kuriboh on the Field.
Only Aisha, who had gradually assembled her Kuriboh army throughout the semester in Summoning class, could have done this.
"This pointless delay is wasting both our time! Even if you kept Winged Kuriboh, it won't change the outcome. My turn ends!"
With two Blue-Eyes back on the Field and only a single Kuriboh left on Miles' Field, Kaima ended his turn in full control.
"It's not a pointless delay. I'll show you this turn, Kaima! One last miracle—draw!"
Miles needed that key reversal card—but not only that. What he drew was—
"Spell Card [Double Spell], activate!"
[Select 1 Spell Card from your opponent's Graveyard; apply its effect as this card's effect.]
Another card stealing a Spell from Kaima's Graveyard. Unable to rely on rare Spells himself, Miles used the opponent's high-rarity cards instead.
From [Exchange] to [Graverobber] to now [Double Spell]—this was Aisha's Duelist philosophy.
Magic surged from beneath Miles and reached into Kaima's Graveyard, activating an A-rank banned Spell—
"With [Double Spell], I activate [Graceful Charity] from your Graveyard!"
[Draw 3 cards, then discard 2 cards.]
This banned card would be used to search for the final piece.
"Draw!"
With luck on his side and a forbidden filter effect, Miles had no trouble drawing what he needed.
Aisha shouted, "Miles! That card!"
"This is the one I was waiting for! I discard 2 cards as required by [Graceful Charity]!"
Now Miles had one card in hand—his public trump.
But he also held a hidden ace capable of turning the Duel upside down.
"I switch [Winged Kuriboh] to Attack Position and declare battle!"
[Winged Kuriboh, ATK: 300]
Everyone stared in disbelief as Miles, once again, declared an unfathomable battle.
300 ATK charging into 3000 ATK. And Winged Kuriboh couldn't even equip [Amulet of Ambition].
If this changed the Duel, then everything about strength vs. weakness would be shattered by this girl.
Kaima was baffled, "Is this the dignity of a weakling's last stand?!"
Reigun yelled, "Or the suicidal act of someone abandoning victory?!"
"Answer me, Aisha Carlos!"
Miles slammed his final card onto the Duel Arena.
"Kaima Seth! With this final card, I'll break through the chains of fate that bind you! Witness this! Whether strong or weak, we can shatter the chains of destiny!"
"Quick-Play Spell, activate: [Berserker Shatterfist]!"
[Banish 1 monster from your Graveyard; until the End Phase, 1 face-up [Winged Kuriboh] you control gains ATK/DEF equal to that monster.]
This card would let Miles empower Winged Kuriboh with the strength of a monster in his Graveyard.
"You think you can surpass Blue-Eyes by empowering a trash monster? Aisha, the strongest thing in your Graveyard is First of the Dragons, with only 2700 ATK!"
"Wrong, Kaima! You're about to face the weakest—and the strongest—Winged Kuriboh ever!"
"Wait, what is that monster?!" Everyone screamed.
More terrifying than Neo Blue-Eyes, the white angel wings of Winged Kuriboh began turning black.
From the darkened wings spread black particles, forming a monstrous shape too large to be real.
The monster Miles banished was the hidden ace discarded by [Graceful Charity]—
Kevin shivered. He recognized the shadow looming behind Winged Kuriboh.
"It's—Dystopia the Despondent!!"
[Dystopia the Despondent, ATK: 5000]
A God with a printed 5000 ATK—the sleeping God in Aisha's Deck. Though never awakened itself, it now lent all its strength to Winged Kuriboh.
"Impossible! That thing's stronger than Neo Blue-Eyes?!"
As Winged Kuriboh evolved, Kaima felt the biggest shock since the Duel began.
"That's not a monster. That's a Kami!"
Its blackened angel wings spread to the size of Dystopia itself.
With divine flair, the now-divine Kuriboh became a fallen angel of destruction and despair.
"Winged Kuriboh—Divine Form!!"
[Winged Kuriboh, ATK: 300 → 5000]
Fully empowered by Dystopia the Despondent, Kuriboh punched as its Godlike shadow mimicked every move.
The weakest—and the strongest!
In this Duel, the line between power and weakness had completely blurred.
Was it Kuriboh or Dystopia delivering the final blow? It became a philosophical question.
It was as if the whole Duel had been leading to this moment.
Kaima's eyes widened as he recalled: "Whether strong or weak, the chains of fate can be broken..."
"Then let this punch—weakest and strongest—wake you up, Kaima Seth!!"
Miles declared Winged Kuriboh's attack. Its black wings expanded so far, even those beyond Fusion Academy could see them.
"Shatter Blue-Eyes in a single strike—Winged Kuriboh!"
"—Godhand Impact!!"
Miles punched forward—Winged Kuriboh punched forward—Behind them, Dystopia the Despondent punched forward.
Three fists in unison.
A divine punch that completely overpowered Blue-Eyes. The arrogant Dragon Emperor couldn't even resist.
One punch smashed Blue-Eyes, Kaima, and the Duel Arena itself into the ground.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
[Kaima Seth, LP: 700 → 0]
"EX☆PLOSION—!!!!"
The Fusion Academy Festival's Class Year Challenge Duel ends—
With a victory from the first-year challenger!
...
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