'Morgan?'
Hearing the name, Old Snake froze. It sounded familiar, but he couldn't place it. He rarely paid attention to things he didn't care about.
Suddenly, then Hannah's face flashed through his mind—the woman he most wanted to hunt.
Morgan was that name Hannah was always muttering.
She called her a seductive little vixen, but looking at her now… just a kid?
Old Snake grinned widely. His serpentine transformation had progressed further than most—his mouth lined with mucus membranes that allowed a wider stretch, like a real snake.
He'd wanted to hunt Hannah for ages, but she was absurdly cautious.
Even though they were both Shadow Duelists, Old Snake didn't believe in sparing his comrades. A target was a target.
And now, Morgan's appearance gave him the perfect opportunity.
If Hannah cared that much about her, then breaking Morgan first would drive Hannah mad.
The fury of a robbed hunter—Old Snake had felt that before. Even the calmest Duelist would snap.
If he could get Hannah to challenge him out of rage, he could finally hunt her.
The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. His golden-orange eyes locked onto Morgan, sparkling with anticipation.
This strange kid had challenged him to a Shadow Game? Fine. Let's see who ends up as the prey.
"Very well. Since you're so eager for a Shadow Game, I accept. Hope you don't regret it!"
Old Snake smiled. His crimson tongue flicked erratically.
At once, a black mist spread from under his feet, swallowing the area—including Viviana's villa.
Until the Shadow Game ended, no one could find this place. No one could escape.
"Morgan, why would you accept a Shadow Game?! That's reckless! You might be strong, but you can't fight a Shadow Duelist!"
Viviana trembled, but still tried to protect Morgan.
Morgan slid her Deck into her Duel Disk and smiled nonchalantly.
"Shadow Games are enforced. Even if I refuse, he could still initiate it."
"They say Shadow Games are dangerous—that losing means falling into darkness. But for me, if I win, it's no different from any other duel."
Viviana felt a flicker of shame. And surprise.
Morgan assumed her victory before the duel began.
Just who was this girl?
She truly lived up to the name "Witch."
Old Snake eagerly activated his Duel Disk. The snake-headed device flicked its tongue as the Deck shot out, and its serpent body unfolded into the Monster and Spell/Trap Zones.
It fit his image perfectly.
Morgan had always wondered where these guys got such oddly customized Duel Disks.
Anyhow, that curiosity could wait. Right now, it was time to rack up Duel Points.
Their Duel Disks activated simultaneously, red lights flashing.
Both LP: 8000.
"Duel!"
They drew five cards.
Old Snake remained silent, not claiming first turn.
Morgan frowned slightly. If he let her go first, it meant his Deck was built to counterattack.
Like Cyber Dragons or Ancient Gear Golem.
She didn't know his exact build yet, but if this Shadow Duelist passed on the first move, he better be ready to burn.
"My turn. Draw!"
Viviana watched helplessly, biting her lip as the Shadow Game fully took hold. She consoled her agitated Crystal Beasts and prayed for Morgan.
Morgan looked at her draw and quickly mapped out her opening combo.
She was in it for Duel Points. Even so, she would never underestimate a foe—She'd been caught off guard plenty of times in her past life to know so.
Shadow Games? No room for error.
"I activate the Spell Card: Terraforming!"
"Add 1 Field Spell from Deck to hand. I add Trickstar Light Stage."
Seeing the card, Viviana froze.
Morgan changed Decks?
And why did that card seem familiar?
Before she could place it, soft footsteps echoed in the distance—accompanied by whimpers.
Mena had wandered into the garage barefoot, eyes wet with tears.
She'd woken up to a freezing chill, the lights out, and her sister gone. She'd cried, searching the house, until she heard voices here.
Viviana scooped her up, holding her tight.
"Sis, the house got so dark..."
Peeking over Viviana's shoulder, Mena saw Morgan dueling. Though not tall, her upright posture projected calm and strength.
"Morgan's dueling? Yay! I get to watch up close!"
Morgan turned and smiled gently.
"Dark, huh? Don't be scared. I'll light this place up."
"I activate the Field Spell: Trickstar Light Stage!"
In a flash, a glamorous stage rose beneath Morgan's feet, putting her dead-center under the spotlight. Applause rang from the phantom audience stands.
Floodlights swept the arena, banishing the darkness before converging on Morgan—making her shine even brighter.
Mena stared wide-eyed, mesmerized.
Morgan's radiant figure burned into her memory.
Her heart followed suit.
Viviana, however, was reeling.
She knew that Field Spell. She'd seen it in the Virtual Duel spectator room… The mysterious Duelist who went undefeated using Trickstars to reach Platinum.
She was one of the countless fans who'd chased that identity.
And now, that Duelist was standing beside her.
Morgan.
The revelation struck too hard. She couldn't believe it… Regardless, reality refused to look away.
Her secret idol was here.
But why hide her identity?
If Morgan revealed it, she'd gain so much.
Then Viviana remembered Morgan dodging club managers and her disgust at club recruiters.
It had to be the auction incident… when clubs bid for personal data about the mysterious Duelist.
It made Viviana nauseous just thinking about it.
No wonder Morgan avoided clubs.
Viviana closed her eyes.
She wouldn't expose Morgan.
Revealing her Trickstar Deck here meant she trusted her.
She wouldn't betray that.
And besides…
This was their little secret.
She might be the only one in the world who knew.
The thought filled her with a quiet thrill.
Yet, worry lingered. Morgan was strong, but Old Snake wasn't some amateur—Victory wouldn't come easily.
Morgan pressed on.
"Light Stage effect: add 1 Trickstar monster from Deck to hand. I add Trickstar Lycoris."
Her Duel Disk ejected the card.
Old Snake's eyes narrowed. He finally realized who Morgan was. Even among Shadow Duelists, the mysterious Trickstar user was a hot topic.
No wonder Hannah was obsessed.
Old Snake smirked, savoring the secret.
"Next, I activate the Spell: Trickstar Festival!"
"Special Summon 2 Trickstar Tokens (Fairy / LIGHT / Level 1 / ATK 0 / DEF 0)."
Two cute, winged heart-balloon tokens appeared.
Viviana blinked. She hadn't seen Morgan use this card before.
Reasonably so, since in Virtual Duels, most opponents weren't worth the effort. But against a real Shadow Duelist? Time to go all out.
"I use the Tokens to set the Link Arrows!"
A Link Summon circuit lit up. The Tokens turned into light, hitting the lower-left and lower-right corners.
A lithe performer emerged—a girl in a sky-blue costume with dragonfly wings. She twirled, her ribbon-like whip spiraling around her.
"Link Summon: Trickstar Holly Angel!"
[Trickstar Holly Angel] Link-2 │ ATK 2000
It was the new Trickstar!
Viviana practically squealed. For a moment, she was just a fangirl again.
Morgan wasn't done.
"I summon Trickstar Candina in Holly Angel's Link Zone!"
"On summon: add 1 Trickstar monster from Deck to hand. I add another Trickstar Lycoris."
Two Lycoris in hand.
That meant pain.
And more burn cards were likely waiting.
"Holly Angel effect: when a Trickstar is summoned to a zone it points to, deal 200 damage."
Old Snake took 200 LP damage.
Then another 200.
"Light Stage: Each time you take damage from Trickstar battle or effect, take 200 more."
So each hit caused double pain?
Old Snake forced a smile. A bead of sweat trickled down… He'd heard of Morgan's burn deck, but this was brutal.
Still, if her strategy relied on the Field Spell, he could just—
"I activate both Trickstar Lycoris in hand!"
"Return Candina to hand; Special Summon both Lycoris to Holly Angel's zones!"
"Deal 400 damage!"
That was from Holly Angel.
Then another 400 from Light Stage.
Total so far: 1200 LP.
Old Snake felt himself being eaten alive.
"I Set 1 card. Turn end."
Old Snake exhaled.
She hadn't even attacked. And he'd already lost 1200 LP.
He needed to retaliate. Fast.
Step one: destroy that Field Spell.
"My turn. Draw!"
His Duel Disk spat out a card.
Just from drawing—he lost more LP.
"W-What?! Why am I losing LP from drawing?!"
Morgan smiled.
"Trickstar Lycoris. When you add a card to your hand: take 200 damage. Plus 200 from Light Stage. Total: 400."
One draw, 400 LP gone.
Old Snake's blood pressure spiked. He was getting burned alive.
Despite that, he was a Shadow Duelist. He composed himself. He would drag her into darkness.
He glanced at his hand. One card could stop this burn engine.
"I activate the Spell: Unexpected Dai!"
"If I control no monsters: Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower Normal Monster from Deck."
"I summon Venom Cobra in Attack Position!"
A sinister serpent with a human face slithered onto the field. Mena yelped.
"Ew! Sis, that snake's gross!"
"..."
Old Snake was speechless for a second, then sneered. That was nothing. He had worse.
"Now, let this eyesore of a stage be removed!"
"I activate the Field Spell: Venom Swamp!"