Vampire Sucker on Myura's field was pierced by scorching dragon breath, her Life Points plummeting—the amount she had just recovered was now gone again. But Morgan had more than one monster on the field, and Dragonmaid Sheou's attack was already primed.
"Continue! Dragonmaid Sheou attacks Shadow Vampire!"
Myura's last monster was destroyed. Yet Morgan didn't switch Chamber Dragonmaid to Attack Position for a direct attack; with only 500 Attack, it was meaningless. Worse, greed for damage could leave her open to a counterattack and throw away her advantage.
Morgan played aggressively; that said, she was never reckless. This was still a Shadow Game, and there was no room for carelessness.
"I Set one card and end my turn."
The card she had just set was the archetype Trap Dragonmaid Downtime. It could return a Dragonmaid monster on the field to the hand to activate one of two effects: add a Dragonmaid card from Deck to hand, or return an opponent's Spell/Trap to the hand.
Not only could it recycle House Dragonmaid, but it could also bounce Myura's last Set card. If it was a Trap, she wouldn't be able to use it next turn.
However, since this effect could be chained against, Morgan planned to save it for the most critical moment.
Seeing Morgan end her turn, Hannah's expression turned grim.
Morgan had not only wiped Myura's field but inflicted heavy damage as well. And with Sheou still on the field, Myura would be forced into caution. Until she baited out Sheou's negate and destroy effect, she couldn't truly push her plays.
Yet, tricking Morgan into wasting an interruption was no easy feat. Last turn, Morgan had struck at the exact moment to break Myura's combo, perfectly reading her. Myura was already an open book to her.
Frowning, Hannah glanced at Myura. Maybe this ancient Shadow Duelist wasn't so reliable after all. Had she been out of the world too long, her thinking fossilized?
Hannah couldn't say. She only knew she had warned repeatedly: never underestimate Morgan.
Now Myura had paid the price for her arrogance.
"My turn, draw!"
Myura drew a card with a grave expression. She could not relax for even a moment. She had to win this duel. If word spread she lost to a junior through carelessness, her reputation would be ruined.
Scanning her hand, she quickly outlined her next chain. Though her two low-level monsters had been banished when they left the field, Scarlet Scourge was still in the Graveyard. She could use its effect for her combo.
"I activate the Trap, Vampire Awakening!"
"Special Summon 1 Vampire monster from my Deck."
"I Special Summon Vampire Scarlet Scourge from my Deck!"
Her Deck had three Scarlet Scourges total. With one already in the Graveyard, two remained.
Summoning another Scarlet Scourge now meant she could Xyz Summon a Rank 6 monster. If she targeted Sheou, Morgan would surely be forced to use its negate and destroy.
Myura smiled confidently.
The elegant Scarlet Scourge appeared, and Myura immediately declared:
"I activate Vampire Scarlet Scourge's effect!"
"When this card is Special Summoned: Pay 1000 LP, then target 1 Vampire monster in your Graveyard and Special Summon it!"
"I Special Summon the other Scarlet Scourge from my Graveyard!"
Now two Scarlet Scourges stood together. And the one revived could use its effect again.
Paying another 1000 LP, Myura brought back Vampire Sucker.
Her once-empty field was filled again in an instant. The crowd gasped at such endurance. What puzzled them more was that Morgan hadn't interrupted.
Albeit Myura knew. Morgan was waiting, biding her time until Myura spent everything. Then she would negate and destroy her finishing monster.
So dirty!
Nonetheless, Myura wouldn't give her that chance. She would break Sheou now and force out the effect.
"I overlay my two Scarlet Scourges!"
"Xyz Summon! Dhampir Vampire Sheridan!"
When the golden vortex faded, a refined vampire appeared. Wearing a monocle, he was clad in white aristocratic garb, his high collar shaped like bat wings. His scarlet eyes gleamed against pale skin.
[Dhampir Vampire Sheridan] Rank 6│DARK│Zombie│2600 ATK / 1000 DEF
This card held a powerful effect: detach 1 material to send 1 card on the opponent's field to the Graveyard. But Myura only meant to use it as bait.
"I activate Dhampir Vampire Sheridan's effect!"
"Detach 1 material, then target 1 card on your field and send it to the Graveyard!"
"I target your Dragonmaid Sheou!"
All eyes turned to Morgan. Anyone could see it—this was bait. If she didn't respond, Sheou would be gone. There was no real choice: she had to activate its effect.
But if she did, what about Myura's follow-up?
Hannah watched and sighed. Myura's experience showed—this open bait left Morgan no clean option.
Abruptly, Morgan only laughed. She had already seen through Myura's plan.
Even if she used Sheou's effect, it didn't mean she would lose.
Promptly, Morgan shouted:
"Now, I activate Dragonmaid Sheou's effect!"
...
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