From the center of Trickstar Light Stage, thick sludge erupted like a fountain, quickly flooding the entire arena.
It devoured the stage like quicksand, leaving behind a stinking, boundless swamp.
Morgan's legs were swallowed to the knees. She knew it was just a virtual projection, but still found it disgusting.
Old Snake, however, felt right at home. Every time he activated this card, it felt like returning to his nest.
With the lights gone, darkness reclaimed the space. Above stretched a black sky, below a bottomless swamp.
Mena clung to Viviana, trembling and on the verge of tears.
Morgan watched Old Snake, eyes narrowed. He was using a Reptile Deck… a rare sight in her past life, due to its low power level. But here? Who knew.
Especially with a Shadow Duelist—who knew what broken tricks they had.
Even without Light Stage, her two Trickstar Lycoris still had strong burn potential. And with Trickstar Festival in the Graveyard, she could prevent destruction once.
Her board was still solid.
"I activate the Spell Card: Double Summon!"
"I can perform an additional Normal Summon this turn."
Morgan's gaze sharpened. It was a simple, old card, but powerful. With no monsters Normal Summoned yet, he was prepping for something big.
"I summon Venom Snake in Attack Position!"
A small but vividly colored rattlesnake coiled at Old Snake's feet. It looked lethal.
[Venom Snake] Level 3 │ 1200 ATK / 600 DEF
"Venom Snake's effect: place 1 Venom Counter on an opponent's monster once per turn."
"I target Trickstar Holly Angel!"
A snake made of venom shot from the swamp and bit Holly Angel's thigh. She cried out as the spot blackened.
Her ATK dropped from 2000 to 1500.
"Why did Holly Angel's ATK drop?"
Viviana looked around. Then her eyes widened.
"It's the Field Spell, isn't it?"
Old Snake sneered.
"Venom Swamp's effect: every Venom Counter reduces a monster's ATK by 500. If it hits 0, that monster is destroyed."
Viviana paled. Trickstars weren't high-ATK monsters. Holly Angel had only 2000 ATK to start… four counters would end her.
And Lycoris had just 1600.
Typical venomous cruelty.
Viviana shuddered. If she faced this deck, her low-ATK Crystal Beasts would suffer too. Without walls, she'd be forced to stall—maybe summon Rainbow Dragon to table-flip.
But could she last that long?
She looked at Morgan, worried.
Morgan, of course, had solutions. The deck wasn't that strong—just annoying. Even so, she was wary of Old Snake's finisher.
She suspected it had an alternate win condition...
Now that the rattlesnake had done its job, it was time to be tributed.
"I tribute Venom Cobra and Venom Snake!"
"I Tribute Summon: Vennominon the King of Poisonous Snakes!"
Both snakes vanished into the swamp. A golden serpent head rose from the vortex, revealing a snake-headed humanoid monster.
[Vennominon the King of Poisonous Snakes] Level 8 │ 0 ATK / 0 DEF
"ATK and DEF both zero?!"
Viviana was stunned. He did all that for this?
But then its stats rose—briefly.
It stopped at 1000.
"Vennominon gains 500 ATK for each Reptile in the Graveyard. And your monsters are weakening while mine grow stronger."
"Now I activate the Spell: Venom Shot!"
"Send 1 Reptile from Deck to Graveyard, place 2 Venom Counters on a face-up monster."
"I send Venom Cobra to place 2 counters on Holly Angel—she loses 1000 ATK."
"Vennominon gains another 500."
Two more venomous snakes emerged and bit Holly Angel's waist and thigh. Her ATK fell to 500. Vennominon rose to 1500.
Old Snake roared in triumph.
"Battle! Vennominon attacks Trickstar Holly Angel!"
Its humanoid arms became snakes, which wrapped around Holly Angel, pumping her with venom.
Suddenly then—
"I activate Trickstar Festival from the Graveyard!"
"If a Trickstar summoned from the Extra Deck would be destroyed, I can banish this instead."
Morgan banished the card. Holly Angel broke free, avoiding destruction.
Viviana sighed in relief.
Yet, Old Snake chuckled darkly.
"You still take damage."
Morgan frowned. Her LP dropped by 1000.
Old Snake cackled.
"It's useless! You can't stop the venom!"
"I Set 1 card. Then at End Phase, Venom Swamp activates!"
"Each End Phase: all face-up non-Venom monsters get 1 Venom Counter."
Another snake rose and bit Holly Angel again. Her ATK dropped to 0. With no more protection, she shattered.
Only Morgan's two Lycoris remained.
"What now, Witch? Think we're easy prey, just because you're Platinum? I've hunted more Platinum Duelists than I can count!"
He wasn't lying. As a Shadow Duelist, he faced many top-tier players.
With Vennominon on the field, he was unbeatable. And he had an even stronger monster waiting.
Old Snake expected fear or despair.
Instead, Morgan grinned. A warm, radiant smile, like sunlight in winter.
He blinked.
What?
Was she... broken?
Even Shadow Duelists feared lunatics. However, Morgan wasn't mad—just thrilled.
Stronger opponents gave more Duel Points, and Shadow Duelists were worth double—This snake guy was way above Alban. The DP payout would be huge.
How could Morgan not be happy?
"Sis, why is Morgan smiling so much? Is she winning?"
"Uh... maybe?"
Viviana had no idea what Morgan was thinking.
Morgan turned and beamed.
"I am going to win. But I'm smiling because I'm happy, Mena."
Old Snake frowned. Win? Her?
He scoffed. Empty words.
Morgan ignored him.
"My turn. Draw!"
She smiled. It was Hand Destruction.
She still had a Candina in hand, enough to fetch the last Lycoris. Even without Light Stage, three Lycoris would do plenty.
Plus, she had a fun trap card.
"I summon Trickstar Candina!"
"Her effect: add Trickstar Lycoris to hand."
She followed up with the basic Trickstar combo.
"Activate Lycoris' effect: return Candina to hand; Special Summon Lycoris."
Lycoris had 1600 ATK. Vennominon had 1500. That 100 made all the difference.
Seeing three burn monsters on field, Old Snake went pale.
He'd dodged massive damage by killing Light Stage early—but now...
"Quick-Play Spell: Hand Destruction!"
"Each player discards 2, then draws 2."
Old Snake froze.
Each draw? 200 burn from each Lycoris.
3 x 200 x 2 = 1200 LP.
He groaned, discarded two cards, and watched his LP plummet.
Morgan wasn't done.
"I activate the Trap: Chain Energy!"
"Each time a player Summons, Sets, or activates a card from hand: pay 500 LP."
Old Snake's eyes bulged.
Whatever he did now, it would cost him.
Even a Set card would drain LP… He, a Shadow Duelist, was being bullied by something even more toxic.
"Battle! Trickstar Lycoris attacks Vennominon!"
She slashed it down, slicing 100 more LP off.
But to Old Snake, that 100 felt like pure mockery.
He snarled, tongue flicking in rage.
"When Vennominon is destroyed, activate Set card: Snake Whistle!"
"If a Reptile is destroyed, Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Reptile from Deck."
He placed a card in his Monster Zone.
"I summon Venom Serpent!"
[Venom Serpent] Level 4 │ 1000 ATK / 800 DEF
Regardless, he wasn't worried.
Vennominon could revive.
"Vennominon's effect: When destroyed in battle, banish another Reptile from Graveyard to revive it."
"I banish Venom Cobra to Special Summon it!"
It slithered back from the swamp.
Viviana scowled. A monster that grew stronger with each revival?
Terrifying.
Meanwhile, Morgan just saw it as resource-hungry garbage with no real punch.
"I Set 1 card. Turn end."
She considered another Link Summon, but her opponent's monsters were better at single-target duels.
Trickstar ATK stats were low—easy pickings if weakened.
Old Snake exhaled. No new burn cards?
He breathed easier.
But the damage was done. He was locked down.
"My turn. Draw!"
His eyes lit up.
Time to call the god of venom—His boss monster would break this lock. And he had the two Trap Cards he needed.
Despite that, even setting them now cost him LP.
"Damn it! I pay 1000 LP to Set 2 cards."
"Now I activate Venom Serpent's effect: place 1 Venom Counter on an opponent's monster."
One Lycoris got bitten. Her ATK fell to 600.
Old Snake growled.
"Battle! Venom Serpent attacks Trickstar Lycoris!"
...
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