Hand Trap Sisters, five little loli cards with five Attributes, enough to satisfy Aleister's every Invocation requirement.
So, for Miles, the bitter choice was only to pick the one with the least destructive impact.
"I choose Ghost Reaper & Winter Cherries!"
This little scythe-wielding loli's effect was just a generic Extra Deck counter, and among the Hand Trap girls, she was the least threatening to Miles.
However, Ghost Reaper's Attribute was DARK, which was the one least lacking in the Graveyard right now.
If Aleister wanted to fuse into a DARK Invoked monster, he could completely use the DARK Spellcasters in Miles's Graveyard as materials, pulling off a graveyard-dump Fusion.
Even so, the other four Hand Trap lolis were far too dangerous.
Miles would rather let Aleister collect all the Attributes he needed in the Graveyard than pick one of them.
"Hahahahaha! Then, according to Painful Choice, the FIRE, WIND, WATER, and LIGHT monsters get sent to my Graveyard."
In his rampaging state, once Aleister sent all the Attributes to the Graveyard, he was finally free to perform any Invocation from any elemental plane without restraint.
"—Spell Card Invocation, activate! I banish Aleister the Invoker on my field and Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring in my Graveyard as Fusion Materials!"
From the Magical Meltdown arena, the elemental gate of FIRE burst open, crimson flames surging madly.
Like a fairy dancing barefoot in the blaze, the adorable loli Ash Blossom merged into Aleister's Invocation.
No one could have imagined what kind of form Aleister's magic would force such a cute girl into.
Just like before, when the gothic loli Ghost Belle & Haunted Mansion was turned into two giant mountains.
"Flames of rampage that burn everything—demon of the FIRE elemental plane, roar in fury! Fusion Summon Invoked Purgatrio!"
[Invoked Purgatrio] Level 7│FIRE│Fiend│2300 ATK / 2000 DEF
["Aleister the Invoker" + 1 FIRE monster]
As expected, Ash Blossom couldn't escape Aleister's clutches. The resulting FIRE Invoked was no mere demon ugly beyond words.
Miles roared angrily: "You're desecrating lolis!"
"Now's not the time for that, is it? Invocation's effect in the Graveyard returns itself to the Deck and adds the banished Aleister the Invoker back to my hand!"
He had recovered his Fusion material, and Aleister hadn't even used his Normal Summon this turn.
That meant with just one more Normal Summon, Aleister could Fusion Summon yet another Invoked of a different Attribute.
An infinite recycle loop—Aleister's Fusion system was practically superior to most Decks available on the Spirit Continent.
Especially since most people still relied on costly traditional Fusion methods, Aleister's engine was a dimension-crushing blow to Fusion Academy itself.
"Normal Summon Aleister, search Invocation! Open the gates of the elemental plane once more!"
"It's coming!" Miles, controlling the Gray Witch's body, let his pale blue eyes sharpen.
As one of the meta's regulars, even Miles knew of Aleister's infamous LIGHT Invoked—Invoked Mechaba.
Its effect resembled Arcana Knight Joker, but stronger.
By discarding the same type of card (Monster, Spell, or Trap) from hand it could negate and banish the opponent's activation.
"But, it's fine." At the same time, beneath Irena's hat, the Gray Witch's lips curved upward.
With two set Traps on the field, even if one was negated, the other would be enough to hold off Mechaba's suppression.
"Come then, Aleister-senpai. Show me your strongest Invoked, let's clash head-on!"
"Hahahahaha!"
The elemental gates opened again, the rampaging Aleister laughing to the skies, his whole body bathed in a wild storm.
"WIND?" Irena's robes flapped, and Miles realized—the Attribute was wrong.
"Begin the WIND-element Invocation! I banish Aleister the Invoker from my field and Ghost Mourner & Moonlit Chill from my Graveyard as Fusion Materials!"
Exceeding Miles's expectations, Aleister didn't call Mechaba, but instead sacrificed another loli to his magic.
"—Tempest that summons thunder! Invoked Raidjin!!"
[Invoked Raidjin] Level 5│WIND│Warrior│2200 ATK / 2400 DEF
["Aleister the Invoker" + 1 WIND monster]
Lightning danced with the storm as the Invoked warrior stepped forth, gripping a sword of thunder.
"Battle, battle—each fight brings me closer to the truth!"
The more the Duel went on, the more frenzied Aleister became within the Magical Meltdown.
Genius and madman both—his overwhelming skill surged like a wave; no wonder young Irena had been left with such trauma.
Ren spoke up, "Still, Aleister-senpai's two Invoked monsters don't even surpass Dark Magician's attack power!"
With Aleister banished and once-per-turn limitations, he couldn't recover yet.
So even the strongest right now, the blazing Invoked Purgatrio, had only 2300 attack—below Dark Magician's 2500, just above Dark Magician Girl's 2000.
"Fueled by hatred of the enemy, its flames burn hotter! That's Purgatrio's effect!"
[This card gains 200 Attack for each card your opponent controls.]
On Miles's field were Dark Magician Girl and two facedowns, totaling four cards. Entering battle, Purgatrio's flames spread across the ground.
[Invoked Purgatrio, ATK: 2300 → 3100]
If LIGHT Invoked was suppression, then FIRE Invoked was pure destruction.
[This card can attack all monsters your opponent controls once each. If it attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing damage.]
Invoked Purgatrio's effects existed for nothing except annihilation.
"Do you like it? A full-field attacker with piercing—Purgatrio."
"Burn it all away! Roar of the flames!"
The wide-range AOE massacre began, flames engulfing Dark Magician Girl first, erasing Miles's beloved waifu from the field once again.
[Irena, LP: 3000 → 1900]
"Ahh!" Even the wide witch's robe couldn't block the searing heat, scorching Miles's smooth skin beneath, making him hiss.
"Since Dark Magician Girl was destroyed, Purgatrio loses 200 Attack!"
[Invoked Purgatrio, ATK: 3100 → 2900]
"Even so, that's still far above Dark Magician! Two-hit combo—take this!"
The second wave instantly consumed Dark Magician himself, the core of Miles's Deck.
[Dark Magician destroyed]
[Irena, LP: 1900 → 1500]
Irena's pretty face flushed—not from embarrassment. Miles wasn't a masochist excited by defeat.
It was simply the real heat of the flames, combined with the Magical Meltdown's mana storm, almost unbearable.
Hiding in the Millennium Puzzle, Irena was glad she'd had the foresight to let Miles take over.
"I'll make it up to you later, Miles. Anything you want me to do~"
"You're only saying that because you're a spirit and can't actually do anything, aren't you?"
"Hehe, there are still many fun things possible, within our limits."
Verdict: trash.
Fun or not, Miles was definitely about to get wrecked.
"Direct attack, Invoked Raidjin! —Thunder Strike from the WIND plane!"
The lightning-charged blade slashed at Miles's empty field—2200 attack points of lethal damage; he had to block it.
"Then I'll use this card!"
Miles flipped a Continuous Trap, its radiant surface clearly of the highest rarity.
Same top-rank rarity as the Court of Cards knights' bond.
"—Continuous Trap, Eternal Soul, activate!"
As the Trap was revealed, the Dark Magician stone slab behind Miles rose in glowing majesty.
[Once per turn, choose one:
● Special Summon 1 "Dark Magician" from your hand or Graveyard.
● Add 1 "Dark Magic Attack" or "Thousand Knives" from your Deck to your hand.
"Return to me, Dark Magician!"
Once per turn revival—Eternal Soul awakened the ancient slab, summoning the Dark-robed Magician once again.
[Dark Magician, ATK: 2500]
The Dark Magician, only just destroyed, now twirled his staff and revived from the Graveyard, blocking that deadly blade of thunder and light.
"Dark Magician has 2500 Attack, Invoked Raidjin can't break through it!"
"Can't break through? Then let's try this! Invoked Raidjin's effect, activate!"
[Once per turn: You can target 1 face-up monster on the field; change it to face-down Defense Position. This effect can be activated during either player's turn.]
A Quick Effect to flip a monster face-down.
Although Dark Magician's 2500 Attack surpassed Raidjin, his 2100 Defense was just 100 lower.
From the WIND plane, thunder was called forth, blinding light crashing down on Dark Magician.
"We'll see about that!"
Facing the lightning head-on, the Millennium slab behind Miles and Dark Magician shone brighter than the thunder.
"Muda da! This is the effect Eternal Soul grants!"
[While this card is in the Spell & Trap Zone, Dark Magician in your Monster Zone is unaffected by your opponent's card effects.]
With Eternal Soul's protection, Dark Magician was immune to effects. Raidjin's ability couldn't force him into Defense Position.
"Eternal Soul… so that's it."
For the first time, rampaging Aleister paused his relentless storm of attacks.
His blood-red eyes, blazing with surging mana, fell on Irena for the first time.
Yes—since the Duel began, it was the first time Aleister looked at Irena instead of Miles.
"To think you'd bring out such a card. Seems that prideful little first-year girl has grown quite a bit."
Irena: "It's been a year and a half. Of course I've grown! I won't stand still!"
"Shikashi, that's no excuse to be a two-timer! Don't tell me other women are sweeter? You don't understand Aisha Carlos—she's the one who can truly reach the truth!"
He stopped for only a few seconds. Then, raging once more, Aleister's flames surged forth.
"I roll back Invoked Raidjin's attack, and continue with Invoked Purgatrio's assault!"
Since Raidjin's attack was negated, it couldn't attack again.
Nonetheless, Purgatrio was different—able to attack all monsters. With Dark Magician revived, it could swing again.
"—Roar of the FIRE plane! Triple Strike!"
Once again consumed by flames, Dark Magician had effect immunity but not battle destruction immunity.
[Irena, LP: 1500 → 1100]
"Ahhh!"
Three direct blasts of fire knocked Irena sprawling, rolling across the ground within the inferno.
"I Set 1 card. End my turn!"
Barely enduring until Aleister's turn ended, the terrifying destruction of FIRE Invoked left Miles with no monsters.
Anyhow, as long as Eternal Soul remained, Miles would never be without them.
Through the flames, Miles rose, leaning on the slab behind him.
"My turn! Draw! And Eternal Soul activates—revive Dark Magician from the Graveyard!"
Once per turn revival. Though it gave no battle protection, the ancient slab ensured Dark Magician's constant presence.
And now, Miles could afford to be extravagant.
"I Tribute Dark Magician to Tribute Summon Mystrick Hulder!"
[Mystrick Hulder] Level 5│DARK│Spellcaster│1500 ATK / 2400 DEF
Using the revived Dark Magician as a tribute, a Level 7 for a Level 5 fairy sorceress. Without Eternal Soul, Miles would never dare such extravagance.
The reason was clear: Dark Magician alone couldn't break through the Invoked flames.
To turn the tide, he had to seek new possibilities.
"Mystrick Hulder's effect, activate!"
[When this card is Normal or Special Summoned: You can discard 1 card, then apply an effect depending on the type.
● Monster: Add 1 Trap Card from your Graveyard to your hand.
● Spell: Add 1 Monster from your Graveyard to your hand.
● Trap: Add 1 Spell Card from your Graveyard to your hand.]
"I discard 1 Trap from my hand to return a Spell from my Graveyard."
The fairy sorceress's noble incantation drew power from Miles's discarded Trap, offering back a Spell from the Graveyard.
"I choose Pot of Greed—add it to my hand! Draw 2 cards!"
Drawing was the simplest way to create possibility.
Sacrificing Dark Magician to create a chance at new cards—witnessed by the ancient slab, by the souls of magicians who had fought till now.
"Draw!!"
As Pot of Greed shattered, two cards flew into Irena's slender fingers—hope for a breakthrough.
"Perfect timing. With this card, I'll settle things with your Invoked!"
Raising her arm, dazzling Fusion energy burst across the Graduation Duel stage.
It was the first Fusion Miles had played in this entire Duel.
Regardless, this single Fusion could surpass any Invoked before.
Absolute quality—to summon the one ultimate being above all Invoked.
"—Spell Card Magicalized Fusion, activate!"
[Fusion Summon 1 Spellcaster Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck by banishing Fusion Materials listed on it from your field or Graveyard.]
The Spellcaster version of Dragon's Mirror, banishing from field and Graveyard for a grand Fusion.
"To draw Magicalized Fusion now…?"
Aleister's blazing eyes widened further. The monsters present on Miles's field and Graveyard might just fulfill the conditions for the ultimate magical being.
"Ready this time, Irena? Don't burn out like last time!"
"Even if I do, it's fine! Use all the mana in my body, Miles! Let Aleister-senpai see our combined power!"
Everything prepared—the five-fold magical array of Spellcasters from the Graveyard shot into the heavens.
"I banish Mystrick Hulder on the field, Apprentice Illusion Magician, Chronicle Magician, Dark Magician Girl, and Dark Magician from the Graveyard as Fusion Materials!"
The five Spellcasters who had fought thus far manifested in turn, ascending together, guiding the birth of the ultimate Fusion.
"Guided by five magicians' souls, the greatest Spellcaster of all—unleash the supreme fivefold magic! Fusion Summon—Quintet Magician!"
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going! [Patreon.com/RedZTL]