"Return Parlor Dragonmaid on the field to the hand, and return this card from the Graveyard to the hand!"
Parlor Dragonmaid vanished from Morgan's field. Even though it had been turned into a Zombie, its archetype was still Dragonmaid, making it eligible to be retrieved by Changeover.
Seeing Morgan use the effect again, Myura suddenly laughed. She knew perfectly well that Morgan's purpose in retrieving this card was to perform another Fusion Summon.
Anyhow, she had no intention of allowing that, because the face-down card on her field was the Counter Trap Vampire Domination.
As long as a Vampire monster was on the field, when the opponent activated a Spell, Trap, or monster effect, Vampire Domination could negate and destroy it.
House Dragonmaid wasn't the only one with a negate-and-destroy effect.
Myura gave a cold snort. Just then, she heard Morgan suddenly declare:
"At this moment, I activate House Dragonmaid's effect!"
"When another face-up Dragon monster I control returns to the hand, I can target 1 monster on your field and destroy it."
"I target and destroy your Vampire Sucker!"
Myura's face instantly changed. Vampire Sucker was the key to her upcoming chain—it could not be destroyed.
That said, if she used Vampire Domination now, she wouldn't be able to stop Morgan's Fusion Summon later. After a brief hesitation, she clenched her teeth and made her decision.
"I activate the Counter Trap, Vampire Domination!"
"When I control a Vampire monster: When a monster effect, Spell, or Trap Card is activated, negate the activation, and if you do, destroy it."
"Then, if it was a monster card, I gain LP equal to its original Attack."
House Dragonmaid was immediately swarmed by a cloud of bats and destroyed. Myura regained the corresponding Life Points. Although she had paid heavily earlier with monster effects, now all of it was restored—and even more on top. Yet she felt no joy, since this Counter Trap wasn't where she wanted to use it.
Nevertheless, Morgan had left her no time to hesitate.
Morgan looked at Myura in surprise. She hadn't expected such a move. There was nothing she could do against a Counter Trap.
Despite that, it didn't matter. Even if destroyed, House Dragonmaid could return to the field during the opponent's Standby Phase thanks to Dragonmaid Sheou's effect.
"From my hand, I activate the Spell Card, Dragonmaid Changeover!"
"I fuse the Parlor Dragonmaid in my hand with Laundry Dragonmaid on my field!"
"Fusion Summon! Dragonmaid Sheou!"
Dragonmaid Sheou appeared on the field once again, bringing immense pressure to Myura.
An'er gasped at the sight. Morgan's archetype-exclusive Fusion Spell was truly powerful. As long as she had Dragonmaids on the field, she could keep recycling and Fusion Summoning. And after Sheou used its effect, it didn't go to the Graveyard but returned to the Extra Deck, ready to be summoned again and again.
Of course, this required one condition—the Extra Deck still needed House Dragonmaids. Since Morgan had already lost one, she now had only two left.
Even so, Morgan wasn't worried. She had many effects that returned monsters to the hand, and House Dragonmaid, being an Extra Deck monster, would return there instead of to the hand.
Watching Sheou return to the field, Isla let out a long breath. When House Dragonmaid was destroyed earlier, she had been worried. Losing the highest Attack monster would have stalled Morgan's offense.
Yet, with just one Spell Card, Morgan had turned the situation around.
Isla couldn't help but feel admiration, and once again, the gap between her and Morgan. With Sheou back, Morgan had a stable control piece again, making her next chains easier.
The spectators also relaxed. Strictly speaking, they were hostages—only Morgan's victory would free them from the black mist's confinement. Seeing her regain the upper hand, excitement surged among them.
"Amazing! That's Morgan for you, putting that old hag in her place!"
"Ancient Shadow Duelist? More like an ancient fossil!"
"No kidding, just watching makes my knees weak. Morgan's incredible."
"Wait… Hazel's a Shadow Duelist? Doesn't look the part…"
Hearing the chatter, Myura suddenly snapped her head toward the stands, scarlet eyes glaring fiercely.
"Who just called me an old hag?"
The crowd froze. They immediately backed away from the student who had spoken, leaving him standing in a vacuum of space. The boy stared blankly, not expecting that his words during the duel could be heard so clearly.
"Hmph, you've got guts? Once I deal with this brat, I'll deal with you next!"
Her aura surged. The terrified student's breath caught in his throat, and he fainted on the spot.
Morgan couldn't help but laugh quietly. To still have the mind to listen to the audience mid-duel—clearly, she wasn't pushing Myura hard enough.
"Before entering the Battle Phase, I activate Chamber Dragonmaid's effect!"
"At the start of the Battle Phase: Return this card to the hand, and Special Summon 1 Level 7 or higher Dragonmaid monster from my hand or Graveyard."
The Dragonmaid Deck worked in two tiers: the little maids (humanoid forms) and the big dragons (true forms without human features).
At the start of the Battle Phase, the little maids could summon big dragons from the Graveyard or hand. At the end of the Battle Phase, the big dragons could bring back the little maids from the hand.
That was the Dragonmaid's fighting style.
Chamber Dragonmaid was a special case. She could pull out a Level 7+ Dragonmaid from the Graveyard—like House Dragonmaid.
"From my Graveyard, I Special Summon House Dragonmaid in Attack Position!"
The maid in her ancient uniform reappeared on the field.
Myura's eyes widened. Morgan now had two monsters with over 3000 Attack each. More than enough to wipe out every monster she had, rendering all her earlier efforts pointless.
While Myura gritted her teeth in thought, Morgan already declared her attack.
"Battle! House Dragonmaid attacks Vampire Sucker!"
...
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