From what Miles already knew, the defining trait of the Malefic deck was that its monsters were Malefic forms derived from other powerful monsters.
So, to use Malefic monsters, the deck at the very least had to contain the original prototypes of those monsters.
Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Malefic Red-Eyes Black Dragon, Malefic Stardust Dragon—Miles found it hard to imagine that the prototypes of these three monsters would appear in Sylvia's deck.
Of course, this was merely Miles' own speculation.
After all, the Duel Monsters system on the Spirit Continent was ultimately different from both reality and the anime.
Even if Sylvia could pull out Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Miles wouldn't really have much to say.
Of course, if she truly could pull out Blue-Eyes, then this duel would become quite interesting.
The Field Spell [Malefic World], searched out by the Continuous Spell Card [Malefic Territory], was added to Sylvia's hand from Spirit Eyes.
At the same time, it was also the core card of the Malefic monster system. The existence of Malefic monsters all depended on the field.
"The gods shall bear all sins on behalf of their people, and I now exercise this authority!"
Before activating the Field Spell Card, Sylvia even placed the card between her fingertips at the position of the cross on her chest, narrowed her eyes, and prayed for a moment, looking as though she were enchanting the card.
Yet despite being such a noble and sacred act, because Sylvia's sexy figure beneath her nun's habit was far too eye-catching, it carried a mysterious aura of sensuality.
No wonder some passersby had said earlier that being able to witness Lady Nun's duel in person was truly a blessing from the gods.
As for what exactly that blessing entailed… it naturally varied from person to person.
"—I activate the Field Spell Card [Malefic World]!"
When the prayer ended, Sylvia flung the Field Spell Card pinched between her fingers onto the cathedral floor. Centered on her, a brilliant, data-storm-like panorama of the Malefic World spread outward, descending upon the interior of the cathedral.
"While the Continuous Spell Card [Malefic Territory] exists, [Malefic World] cannot be targeted by effects!"
The dual effect of searching and protection ensured that [Malefic World], the core of Sylvia's strategy, could function smoothly.
However, all of this was merely the prelude to the Malefic offensive.
What came next was the key. What kind of Malefic monster would Sister Sylvia summon?
"Gather, power of the rainbow!"
Seven-colored rainbow radiance coiled around Sylvia's slender fingers, converging into the card at her fingertips.
Then, in the next second, after the pure rainbow power passed through Malefic World on the field, a streak of black was added to the seven-colored glow.
"All things possess a sinful side. Even the god of rainbows is no exception. I banish [Rainbow Dragon] from my Deck and Special Summon [Malefic Rainbow Dragon] from my hand!"
[Malefic Rainbow Dragon] Level 10│DARK│Dragon│4000 ATK
"Roar—!"
The colossal Rainbow Dragon, infused with the darkness of sin, materialized with a thunderous roar inside the cathedral, coiling and circling above the Malefic World field.
Nova's round eyes widened in shock. "She directly Special Summoned a monster with 4000 Attack!"
Not Fusion, not Synchro, not Xyz—just casually slapping down a single card, and that card was a monster with a staggering 4000 Attack.
Irena raised an eyebrow and said cautiously, "Didn't she just banish a really incredible monster?"
This was exactly what Miles cared about most: what kind of Malefic monster Sylvia would summon.
Not Malefic Blue-Eyes, not Malefic Red-Eyes, not Malefic Stardust, but directly throwing out a 4000-ATK Malefic Rainbow Dragon… Even for an imperial clergy member, Crystal Beasts shouldn't be that easy to obtain, right?
This nun was definitely more than just seductive.
"The form of sin does not end here. Because the Continuous Spell Card [Malefic Territory] exists, the [Malefic monsters] on my field can remove the restriction of only one being present!"
Because of their overly simple and brutal summoning conditions, as well as their exaggerated Attack values, most Malefic monsters carried a restriction:
["Malefic" monsters: Only 1 "Malefic" monster can exist face-up on the field.]
Yet the Continuous Spell Card [Malefic Territory] possessed an effect that altered this limitation:
[The "Malefic" monster effect, "There can only be 1 face-up "Malefic" monster on the field" becomes "There can only be 1 face-up "Malefic" monster on the field with the same name". ]
From allowing only one to exist, it became possible for different Malefic monsters to coexist.
Drawing out a second monster card from her hand, just like when [Malefic Rainbow Dragon] appeared, rapid electric currents wrapped around Sylvia's fingertips, then were dyed black by Malefic World's infection.
"I banish [Cyber End Dragon] from my Extra Deck to Special Summon [Malefic Cyber End Dragon]!"
Another extremely formidable monster was banished. She really wasn't holding back at all.
[Malefic Cyber End Dragon] Level 10│DARK│Machine│4000 ATK
The white steel body, stained black by sin, of the three-headed [Malefic Cyber End Dragon] materialized amid dense, pitch-black explosive currents, stepping onto the battlefield of Malefic World.
"Finally, I set one card. End of turn! God says, it's your turn, Miles~"
On her very first turn, going first, Sylvia, with Malefic World fully operational, directly commanded two monsters with 4000 Attack each.
On the left coiled the radiant [Malefic Rainbow Dragon], and on the right towered the lightning-blasting [Malefic Cyber End Dragon].
Little Princess Nova was left staring in a daze. "What kind of deck is this? Monsters with 4000 Attack are being summoned as casually as low-level monsters. Miles… will he be okay? Is he going to get purified on the spot?"
Irena said, "Purified… why are you talking about Miles like he's some kind of walking mass of filth?"
Although this was also Irena's first time in the imperial capital, as the nation that worshipped martial power the most on the entire Spirit Continent, it wasn't exactly news that the Varian Empire's overall strength surpassed the other two great nations.
After all, aside from last year's shocking upset, the champion of the Tri-Academy Ranking War had been consistently claimed by XYZ Academy.
Still, even if the overall strength was high, if an ordinary nun Duelist could possess this level of power, then the hidden combat potential of the imperial capital was truly terrifying.
"Two Malefic monsters with 4000 Attack, huh."
Miles swept his gaze across the field. This was indeed the kind of duel he rarely experienced—right from the very first turn, extreme high-Attack pressure dominating the board.
And judging from the reactions of the surrounding crowd in the imperial capital, the imperial civilians seemed to particularly enjoy Sylvia's style of combat.
As a people who revered strength, it was only natural that ordinary citizens wouldn't possess a deep understanding of dueling.
So for them, the most direct manifestation of power was monster Attack.
Miles smiled. "Heh, high-Attack suppression, huh. Then I really didn't choose the wrong deck."
Sylvia's pupils shook a little. "You…"
The nun's surprise wasn't only because the beautiful young man who perfectly hit her XP zone looked so charming when smiling confidently during a duel.
What truly shocked her was that Miles could still display such confidence when facing two Malefic monsters with 4000 Attack.
Not to mention students… even the Duelists within the imperial palace would have difficulty maintaining such composure in a situation like this.
"Are you really just a student?"
"Fusion Academy, first year. Miles. Just an ordinary student passing through the imperial capital, genuine and authentic!"
As his turn began, Miles placed his fingertips above the Deck within Spirit Eyes.
This calm confidence, remaining unshaken even under overwhelming Attack pressure, came from the glowing sigil now flickering within Spirit Eyes.
To compensate for the lack of D/D/D cards, Miles activated another Deck stored within his Soul Room.
The mark of the White Dragon shone brilliantly.
"My turn. Draw!"
Only Kaima Seth's Blue-Eyes White Dragon deck could directly contend with Malefic's high-Attack suppression through sheer power.
That was precisely why Miles had said earlier that things would get interesting if Sylvia summoned Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
Malefic Blue-Eyes versus normal Blue-Eyes—that scene would definitely be beautiful.
"Whether it's [Malefic Rainbow Dragon] or [Malefic Cyber End Dragon], I'll break through them with the strongest dragon!"
Miles hurled the Spell Card from his hand onto the cathedral floor.
"—I activate the Equip Spell Card [Future Fusion]!"
[Future Fusion] allowed Fusion Materials to be selected directly from the Deck. Its only drawback was that the monster Fusion Summoned that way couldn't attack during the turn it was summoned.
"I send three [Blue-Eyes White Dragon] from my Deck to the Graveyard as Fusion Materials! Transcend the boundaries of time and space—descend!"
The three Blue-Eyes White Dragons that leapt forth from Miles' Deck merged into one under the guidance of [Future Fusion].
"Indestructible! Invincible! Supreme! Fusion Summon—[Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon]!"
[Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon] Level 12│LIGHT│Dragon│4500 ATK
"Roar—!"
The highest-ranking original Fusion Ultimate Dragon—though it also possessed three heads like Cyber End Dragon—boasted 12 stars and 4500 Attack, surpassing Malefics' power.
Even in a direct confrontation, it would not fall behind Malefic Blue-Eyes.
Sylvia's mouth fell slightly open in disbelief. "An Ultimate Dragon… fused from three Blue-Eyes White Dragons?!"
And he called himself an ordinary student… what kind of ordinary student could wield the power of three Blue-Eyes White Dragons?
Kaima Seth, one of Fusion Academy's twin pillars, was famous as the proud White Dragon Tamer, a name known even within the Varian Empire.
And yet his signature monster, Blue-Eyes White Dragon, was being used by the young man before her.
"A Dragon of Light…"
Sylvia gradually realized something was wrong.
Back in the confessional, she had distinctly sensed the complex and immense demonic power within Miles' soul.
Yet the deck he was using now was not demons at all, but Dragons of Light.
Had she misjudged it? No. Impossible!
Her right hand clenched the cross on her chest as the power of her faith flowed into her eyes.
The Divine Eye that could see through the sins of the soul was the greatest proof the gods had bestowed upon her devotion.
Even so, this time, during the duel, Sylvia failed to see through Miles' soul.
"Blocked…?" Sylvia blinked in disbelief.
The shape of the soul had indeed appeared.
Albeit before Miles' soul, a tall, alluring woman's soul clad in a silver-white coat stood firmly in front of him, shielding him, leaving Sylvia unable to see anything at all.
Irena tilted her head in confusion. "You're just casually using Kaima's deck…. won't she get mad? Also, when did you even get involved with Kaima?!"
What happened inside the obelisk tower was known only to Miles, Kaima, and Dark Aisha.
Naturally, Irena had no way of knowing about Loli Kaima's existence, nor that Miles had already used the White Dragon deck many times within the tower.
"A 4500-Attack Ultimate Dragon, huh!"
Unable to confirm the current state of Miles' soul, Sylvia could only refocus her attention on the duel.
"But monsters Fusion Summoned using [Future Fusion] cannot attack this turn!"
Even though Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon had higher Attack, it still couldn't use battle this turn to break through Malefic.
"The Blue-Eyes' overwhelming assault isn't over yet!"
Miles drew another Spell Card from his hand.
"Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon is just the vanguard!"
"The real star is this one! The evolved strongest Dragon race!—I activate the Quick-Play Spell [Ultimate Fusion]!"
[Activate during either player's Main Phase. Return Fusion Materials listed on a Fusion Monster from your hand, field, or Graveyard to the owners' Decks, and Fusion Summon 1 Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck that lists "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" or "Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon" as material.]
The three [Blue-Eyes White Dragon] that had just been sent to the Graveyard by [Future Fusion] were drawn back into Miles' Deck as they spiraled within [Ultimate Fusion]'s effect.
A fusion beyond indestructible, invincible, and supreme!
"Shatter! Pulverize! Thunderous applause! With ultimate fusion's brilliance, cover the darkness of sin!—Fusion Summon [Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon]!"
[Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, ATK: 4500]
The evolved Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon descended, standing side by side with the original Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon. Together they roared within Malefic World, shaking the entire imperial cathedral.
If Sylvia's Malefic monsters used two cards to summon two monsters with 4000 Attack…
Then, the Blue-Eyes, wielding the strongest Attack used two cards to summon two monsters with 4500 Attack.
A high-Attack clash that exceeded the understanding of the imperial populace—two Ultimate Dragons standing to Miles' left and right, forming a perfect symmetrical standoff against the Malefic monsters on Sylvia's field.
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