Morgan looked at the card she had just drawn. Although she had Eldlich the Golden Lord in her hand, it was the first turn, and she was going first, so there were no cards on the opponent's field to pick off. All she could do was play defensively and prepare for the next turn.
"I activate the Spell Card from my hand: Eldlixir of Black Awakening!"
"Special Summon 1 Eldlich the Golden Lord from the Deck in Defense Position!"
An elegant golden figure appeared on the field. As Morgan's ace monster and the high-Level monster that wowed the crowd yesterday, its arrival brought about an immediate cheer from the audience.
The commentator shouted excitedly, filled with anticipation for the duel ahead.
"Oh! The Witch Morgan once again summons her ace monster, Eldlich, right at the start!"
"From the last duel, we know this monster can bounce between hand and Graveyard and can also send a card from the opponent's field to the Graveyard."
"But because it's the first turn, Morgan can't use that effect, so she opts for a defensive summon using Black Awakening!"
Commentators in the Duelist League are selected with strict criteria—not only must they be passionate about duels, but also capable of quick strategic analysis.
The one standing next to Viviana was known as the League's top commentator, never missing an important match.
Thanks to his explanation, the audience now understood why Morgan summoned Eldlich in the Defense Position.
They couldn't help but admire the finesse of a professional duelist.
And since they could now follow the duel more clearly, their excitement only grew, further heightening expectations for the battle.
After summoning Eldlich, Morgan glanced at her hand. Yesterday at the Duel Arena, she had "borrowed" a few generic Trap Cards from other duelists—cards that worked well with her Eldlich Deck. She hadn't expected to use them this fast.
"I Set four cards and end my turn!"
Four face-down cards appeared on Morgan's field, leaving her with only one card in hand: another Eldlich.
Yet, Morgan wasn't worried. Her Deck only had three monsters to begin with. It wasn't exactly bricking material.
Seeing Morgan so decisively end her turn, the commentator was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected such a simple Set-and-defend play.
Then he realized something.
Five cards in hand, and four were Spells and Traps? Could Morgan's Deck really only include three copies of Eldlich?
He wore a peculiar expression. It wasn't impossible. Eldlich was the core engine of her deck. Including other monsters might actually be redundant.
And besides, her Trap Cards could also become Normal Monsters with effects, making up for the lack of walls.
'What a strange deck...'
The commentator couldn't help but marvel.
"Viviana, still placing your bets on Morgan?"
He teased.
Viviana nodded with a smile.
"Oh! Looks like you're really backing Morgan again. But I won't doubt you this time. Last match made me the clown."
Meanwhile, Alban was staring warily at Morgan's four face-downs, looking anything but amused.
In a tournament match, seeing four backrow cards? You'd have to be insane not to feel threatened.
Unless you had three copies of Harpie's Feather Duster in hand. And Alban had zero.
So he had no choice but to stay cautious and plan for interruptions.
"My turn. Draw!"
Alban added the drawn card to his hand. His strategy remained the same: the OTK he'd perfected. His goal was to reduce Morgan's LP to zero within a few turns.
Though things had changed, he wasn't giving up on that plan.
After a brief pause and a nervous glance at Morgan's backrow, Alban decided to test the waters.
"I activate the Spell Card from my hand: Red-Eyes Insight!"
"Send 1 'Red-Eyes' monster from the Deck to the Graveyard, then add 1 'Red-Eyes Fusion' from Deck to hand!"
Seeing this, Morgan nearly flipped a set card to interrupt him.
In her past life, she had suffered firsthand under the tyranny of Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon.
The sight of Red-Eyes Fusion was enough to make her fingers twitch.
However, she took a deep breath and held herself back. As far as she knew, Alban didn't have that card.
Alban noticed Morgan didn't respond and let out a small sigh of relief. That likely meant her set cards weren't negation tools.
Or maybe she was just waiting.
He sent Red-Eyes Black Dragon from Deck to Graveyard and added Red-Eyes Fusion to his hand.
As he paused, Morgan's earlier words echoed in his head.
'Is it only because of my connections that I had the chance to work this hard?'
He quickly shook his head. No time for distractions.
"I activate Red-Eyes Fusion from my hand!"
"Send Meteor Dragon and Red-Eyes Black Dragon from the Deck to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon Meteor Black Dragon!"
A dark vortex swirled on Alban's field. Two cards flew from his Deck and were sucked into the fusion whirlpool.
Then a massive, molten purple-black dragon burst forth, fierce and terrifying.
[Meteor Black Dragon] Level 8│DARK│Dragon│3500 ATK
Seeing the monster, Morgan was confused. Why fuse for a vanilla monster? With so many Red-Eyes boss monsters, wasn't this a waste?
Even if Red-Eyes Fusion treated it as Red-Eyes Black Dragon, still—
Then it hit her. Alban had mentioned OTK.
Red-Eyes doesn't have many OTK options, right?
Then, without delay, Alban slammed down another card.
"I activate the Spell Card: Inferno Fire Blast!"
"Target 1 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon' you control. Inflict damage to your opponent equal to its original ATK!"
Meteor Black Dragon reared back, black flames swirling in its maw, the air distorting from the heat.
The crowd gasped. The dragon looked so fearsome that it nearly reduced some children to tears.
"Here it is! Alban's OTK strategy!"
"Many duelists have lost to this exact combo. Massive burn damage right out the gate!"
"Will Morgan survive?"
In the Middle Division of Duel Academy, students watched nervously, holding their breath.
If they were in Morgan's shoes, they'd be frozen by now.
"This card is busted! It deals direct damage equal to the monster's ATK and the monster stays on the field!"
Jade waved her arms, puffing her cheeks in frustration.
Isla, more composed, analyzed:
"This play comes with a cost. Red-Eyes Fusion locks Alban out of other summons, and Inferno Fire Blast prevents Meteor Black Dragon from attacking this turn."
Jade's eyes widened.
"So if Morgan survives this burn, Alban can't do anything else this turn?"
Isla nodded. Easier said than done, though.
Morgan stared at the looming Meteor Black Dragon.
She had guessed right. Inferno Fire Blast was the key. 3500 ATK meant two of those, and you were done.
Good thing she had come prepared.
"Now, I activate the face-down card: Golden Land Forever!"
The card flipped, light radiating from it. Meteor Black Dragon recoiled as its flames faded.
"When Eldlich is on the field and a monster effect, Spell, or Trap is activated: Tribute 1 Zombie you control; negate the activation and destroy it!"
"I Tribute Eldlich to negate and destroy Inferno Fire Blast!"
Alban's key burn card shattered. His OTK strategy just failed its first step.
However, he wasn't rattled. That attack was just a test. Still, Morgan had proven strong.
And at least Eldlich was off the field.
"You're strong, Morgan. Few survive that kind of damage."
"I Set two cards and end my turn."
Alban had no other options. The turn passed.
The audience and commentary desk exhaled together. The commentator jumped into action.
"Apologies for the silence, folks! That attack nearly knocked me out!"
"Alban tried his signature combo—Inferno Fire Blast for massive burn!"
"But Morgan shut it down! Though Eldlich left the field, it's far from over. That monster always comes back!"
Viviana's cheeks flushed with excitement. She clenched her fists under the table.
Morgan began her turn, unfazed by the vanilla dragon.
"My turn. Draw!"
She drew a Spell/Trap card. As expected.
"I activate the effect of Eldlich the Golden Lord in my hand!"
"Send this card and Rivalry of Warlords from my hand to the Graveyard to send your Meteor Black Dragon to the Graveyard!"
Alban tensed. He knew this might happen. Plus, losing his wall monster meant Morgan could return Eldlich and summon it at full strength.
As Meteor Black Dragon hit the Graveyard, Alban reacted.
"I activate the Set card: Red-Eyes Spirit!"
"Target 1 'Red-Eyes' monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it!"
Thanks to the earlier fusion, he had Red-Eyes Black Dragon in the Graveyard.
It reappeared on his field, wings flaring and nostrils steaming.
Morgan wasn't done.
She used one of her face-down Spell/Trap Cards as Tribute to bring back Eldlich from the Graveyard at 3500 Attack.
Then came the battle.
"Battle! Eldlich the Golden Lord attacks Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
In a flash, Eldlich drove a gem-studded fist through Red-Eyes, which exploded in a thunderous roar.
Alban, seeing his ace destroyed and Morgan untouched, grew anxious.
He flipped the Set card he had hesitated to use earlier.
"Activate: Red-Eyes Burn!"
"When a 'Red-Eyes' monster is destroyed by battle or card effect: both players take damage equal to its original ATK!"
Red-Eyes Black Dragon had 2400 ATK—Both players would take that as damage.
But Alban would also take the 1100 difference from the earlier attack; Effectively, he just used Inferno Fire Blast on himself…
Too late, Alban realized his mistake. He clenched his fist in frustration.
The commentator sighed.
"Ah... Alban got too hasty. Probably rattled from Inferno Fire Blast being stopped."
"That exchange was a net loss. The good news? Morgan took damage, too. Maybe Alban's OTK path isn't fully blocked."
Audience groaned in sympathy. Some were Alban's fans.
He felt his ears burn.
Morgan continued using her Graveyard:
"I banish Eldlixir of Black Awakening from my Graveyard. Set Conquistador of the Golden Land from my Deck."
"Then, during the End Phase, I banish Guardian of the Golden Land from my Graveyard. Set Eldlixir of Scarlet Sanguine from my Deck."
Her backrow returned to four cards. Alban winced.
"End of my turn."
Alban immediately began his turn.
He had to regain the field. If he couldn't prove himself here, then why show up at all?
The whispers echoed in his mind. He had modified his Red-Eyes Deck before this duel—He could win.
"My turn! Draw!"
He smiled.
It was Allure of Darkness.
His hand didn't have the card he needed to beat Morgan—not yet. Yet, this draw could change that.
"Activate Allure of Darkness!"
"Draw 2 cards, then banish 1 DARK monster from hand!"
He drew. His eyes lit up.
One of the cards was another Red-Eyes Fusion!
He banished Black Metal Dragon.
Now, it was time to unleash the true power of his upgraded Deck.
"I activate Red-Eyes Fusion from my hand again!"
...
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