The two colossal fused mountains pressed down upon the two tiny spellcaster girls.
It was obvious: in terms of sheer strength, Alester's elemental summon from the Earth Plane stood far higher.
But the genius summoner's rampage had only begun.
"Hahahaha! In the Graveyard, I activate the effect of [Invocation]!"
[If this card is in your Graveyard: You can target 1 of your banished "Aleister the Invoker"; shuffle this card into the Deck, and if you do, add that monster to your hand.]
"I return [Invocation] to the Deck and add the banished [Aleister the Invoker] to my hand!"
Irena's eyes widened, "He recycled it!"
That recycle meant next turn Alester could once again search Invocation and keep Fusing—an infinite loop off one card.
Irena muttered: "Making yourself into a card just breaks everything… Couldn't you make me one too?"
"What's worth making out of a sly witch? He's attacking already!"
As Alester declared his Battle Phase, the ground quaked as if the earth itself were overturning.
"Crush Dark Magician Girl! Channel the earth's might into this fist!"
The massive rocky fist swung down, air shattering with force. [Invoked Magellanica] showed no mercy, crashing down with all its mass.
The two magician girls, back-to-back, raised their staves together. Dark magic twined their powers, launching a counterstrike.
"During battle, I activate Apprentice Illusion Magician's effect!"
[During damage calculation, when your DARK Spellcaster battles: You can send this card from your hand or field to the GY; that monster gains 2000 ATK/DEF during that damage calculation only.]
"I send [Apprentice Illusion Magician] from the field to the Graveyard—combining both magical girls' full power to pierce even mountains!"
[Dark Magician Girl, ATK: 2000 → 4000]
Waifu plus waifu, her attack power soared to 4000. A crimson blast tore through the massive body of the Earth Invoked.
"They countered it! Yes!" In the stands, Ren and Aisha squeezed hands in delight.
"Humhumhumhahaha!"
Nonetheless, Alester, frenzied in his Duel state, laughed maniacally.
"If it's an equal clash, then I'll add my magic too! I activate the effect of [Aleister the Invoker] in my hand!"
[Quick Effect: You can send this card from your hand to the GY, then target 1 Fusion Monster you control; it gains 1000 ATK/DEF until the end of this turn.]
"I discard Aleister to boost [Invoked Magellanica] by 1000 ATK during damage calculation!"
[Invoked Magellanica, ATK: 3000 → 4000]
He threw away a card that could sustain his plays just to explode for one turn. The colossus, pierced by magic, roared and smashed down, taking Dark Magician Girl with it.
[Invoked Magellanica] destroyed
[Dark Magician Girl] destroyed
The result: both destroyed, a 4000 vs. 4000 clash on turn one. What was supposed to be Irena's repeat humiliation had become a fierce battle.
Still, Alester held the advantage.
Irena's two magicians had only traded for one Invoked. Another with 3000 ATK remained.
[Irena, LP: 3000]
First turn, and already within kill range. Aisha and Ren's clasped hands grew clammy.
Alester roared: "Direct attack! Face the judgment of the Earth Invoked, scumbag!"
Facing a fatal strike, Miles braced against the wind, holding Irena's witch hat, and flipped his lone set card.
"Time to swap out—Trap Card activate! [Magician Navigation]!"
[Special Summon 1 "Dark Magician" from your hand, then Special Summon 1 Level 7 or lower DARK Spellcaster from your Deck.]
It required holding Dark Magician in hand—the very card Apprentice Illusion had searched earlier.
"I Special Summon [Dark Magician] from my hand in Attack Position!"
[Dark Magician] Level 7│DARK│Spellcaster│2500 ATK / 2100 DEF
The tall, robed magician spun his staff, 2500 vs. 3000 once more.
"And now, my second summon from the Deck! In Defense Position—[Chronicle Magician]!"
[Chronicle Magician] Level 7│DARK│Spellcaster│2500 ATK / 2500 DEF
With a glowing grimoire, his white robes radiated immense power.
"Chronicle Magician's effect! When Special Summoned, target 1 Dark Magician you control; it gains 2500 ATK until the end of this turn!"
White mana surged, doubling Dark Magician's might.
[Dark Magician, ATK: 2500 → 5000]
The crowd stirred at the same time: "This is still turn one?!"
First, a 4000 ATK clash, now a 5000 ATK Dark Magician… surpassing even Ultimate Blue-Eyes.
Kaima Seth would have fumed if she saw her dragons used as benchmarks.
"Even with 5000 ATK, Chronicle Magician's 2500 DEF is still a target!"
Alester shifted targets. The earth-shattering punch crushed Chronicle Magician.
"I set 2 cards and end my turn!"
As Alester ended, Chronicle's light faded.
"Even a 5000 ATK boost only lasted the turn. Next, Dark Magician drops back to 2500!"
"That's fine. All I need is for my ace to stay alive. Do you understand the importance of a Deck's core?"
Trading taunts with the rampaging Alester, Miles drew.
"My turn, draw! I activate the Spell Card [Soul Servant]!"
[Place 1 card on top of the Deck from your hand, Deck, or GY, that is "Dark Magician" or specifically lists "Dark Magician" or "Dark Magician Girl" in its text, except "Soul Servant".]
"I place [Bond Between Teacher and Student] on top, then banish Souls to activate its second effect!"
[During your Main Phase: You can banish this card from your GY; draw cards equal to the number of "Dark Magician," "Dark Magician Girl," and "Palladium Oracle" monsters on your field and in your GY with different names.]
"With both Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl, I draw 2!"
The exact top-decked Spell slid into his hand—perfect prep for his counterattack.
"—I activate the Spell [Bond Between Teacher and Student]!"
[If you control "Dark Magician": Special Summon 1 "Dark Magician Girl" from your hand, Deck, or GY.]
"Through their bond—return, my waifu!"
Ren, tapping her chin, muttered: "Waifu? I could be that too."
[Dark Magician Girl, ATK: 2000]
The cute girl floated to her master's side, their power linking.
"Bond's effect also sets [Dark Burning Attack] from my Deck. And since it's a Normal Spell, I can activate it this turn!"
He flipped it instantly, crimson mana bursting forth.
[If you control a "Dark Magician Girl" monster: Destroy all face-up monsters your opponent controls.]
"Say goodbye to your Invoked—take this blast from my waifu!"
"Hiyaa!"
She hurled the blast so hard her skirt flipped, yet—thanks to unscientific anime gravity—nothing was shown. (Nothing at all, emphasized.)
Irena: "Had enough eye candy?"
[Invoked Magellanica] destroyed
Like a nuke, the field was cleared. Miles pressed his attack.
"Now—direct attack with the master and apprentice! Combined ATK 4500, equal to Ultimate Blue-Eyes's roar!"
Dark Magician struck first, his blast crashing into a watery barrier.
Alester flipped his Set card.
"—Trap Card activate! [Drowning Mirror Force]!"
[When an opponent's monster declares a direct attack: Shuffle all Attack Position monsters your opponent controls into the Deck.]
The cursed shield, a variant of Mirror Force, bounced the attack away.
"I won't allow it! In my Graveyard, [Magician Navigation] banishes to negate your Spell or Trap!"
Dark Magician roared, shattering the shield.
"As expected, you negated it. Against Waboku Wave, of course you would."
Even in frenzy, Alester calculated coldly. Baiting out the negate, he flipped his second Set.
"—Trap Card activate! [Counter Gate]! Negate the attack, then draw 1 card. If it's a Monster, Normal Summon it!"
The second Trap saved him from defeat. Fingers on his Deck, he declared: "I feel it—a DARK monster! Draw!"
He slammed it down.
"I Normal Summon the drawn [Aleister the Invoker] in Attack Position!"
[Aleister the Invoker, ATK: 1000]
His second copy hit the field—indeed, Viel had given him plenty.
"When he's Summoned, I search my Deck for [Invocation]!"
Perfect synergy: Counter Gate's summon triggered Aleister's search.
"Continue the attack, Dark Magician Girl!"
Miles knew it was too late. With Invocation in hand, Aleister could fuse him away, whether on the field or Graveyard.
[Dark Magician Girl] destroyed.
[Alester, LP: 4000 → 3000]
"Heheh… you drew blood." Alester grinned viciously.
Miles set two cards. "I set 2 and end my turn!"
Fusion was inevitable now. All Miles could hope was that Alester lacked the right Attribute materials.
Currently, only EARTH and DARK sat in his Graveyard—not yet deadly. It all depended on his hand.
"My turn, draw."
As he drew, Alester's smile widened.
"Hahahaha! Feast your eyes! I activate the Spell [Painful Choice]!"
[Select 5 cards from your Deck; your opponent chooses 1 for you to add to your hand, and you send the rest to the GY.]
A forbidden A-rank Spell. The five cards Alester revealed made Miles's stomach drop.
He'd just assembled every Attribute for Fusion.
And those five cards? Beyond absurd.
FIRE: [Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring]
WATER: [Ghost Sister & Spooky Dogwood]
WIND: [Ghost Mourner & Moonlit Chill]
DARK: [Ghost Reaper & Winter Cherries]
LIGHT: [Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit]
The five Ghost Girls, one of each Attribute.
"You've got to be kidding me…"
...
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