Exhale… inhale…
After letting out a slow breath, Alicia opened her pearl-white eyes. Yuui, standing beside her, returned into her body once more; however, this time, he didn't take control. Instead, he entrusted all the magic power he had left to her.
Just as she trusted him, he trusted her too—even if that trust meant gambling with his life.
"My turn!"
Alicia placed her pale fingers on her Deck. This Deck, built together with Yuui, carried the bond between them. She believed—no, she knew—that her Deck would answer her call.
"Draw!!"
The card sliced through the air without any flash of light—yet, even that simple sound made Elina inexplicably uneasy.
When Alicia looked at the drawn card, a grateful smile appeared on her lips.
"Thank you, my Deck." She raised the card high. "I activate the Spell Card Fifth Hope! I target five Elemental HERO cards in my Graveyard; shuffle them into my Deck, then draw two cards!
"I choose Elemental HERO Avian, Burstinatrix, Sparkman, Clayman, and Flame Wingman—return to my Deck, and I draw two!"
The spirits of the five HEROes appeared before her, nodding in silent support before turning into streaks of light that flew into her Deck.
Just as Alicia prepared to draw, Yuui's voice echoed again beside her ear.
"Alicia, are you ready to accept my power?"
She seized up for a moment—then joy lit her face. "Of course, Yuui-san!"
"Good. Then draw. I'll show you… a different kind of Fusion."
"Right!" Alicia nodded and drew with all her might. Two cards slid from the top of the Deck—an arc of black and crimson light slicing through the air.
Even as a Shadow Duelist, Elina felt her hair stand on end at that energy.
"Wh-What is that power!? How can you possess something like this!?" she screamed, shaking. That black-and-red light carried not only immense dark energy… but a familiar presence.
A presence that shouldn't exist here. That was their god's aura! How could the power of Him—the god of their cult—appear in this girl's hands?! Unless…
Elina's gaze snapped to the X-shaped mark glowing on Alicia's forehead. A memory flashed through her mind—a legend whispered among the cult's upper circle.
It was said that every Saint could inherit a fragment of the god's power… even a divine incarnation.
Could it be? Did this girl named Alicia carry the incarnation of the Lord Himself?
Was she about to be devoured as a sacrifice by this child?
Elina's face twisted in rage and disbelief. "No! I refuse to believe it! There's no way a mere incarnation could defeat me! I don't believe it!!"
Alicia's brows knitted slightly at Elina's hysterics; nonetheless, she focused her attention on the two cards in her hand.
One of them, finally, was… Slower Swallow.
Chuu!!
The adorable little bird chirped and circled Alicia happily, but soon noticed her attention was fixed entirely on the other card.
The small creature fluttered to her shoulder and gazed with her at that second card.
[Fallen of Albaz] Level 4 | DARK | Dragon | ATK 1800 | DEF 0
Alicia blinked. "Huh? Yuui-san, why is the version of you on this card dark-skinned?"
Yuui: "…Are you really worrying about that at a time like this?"
Alicia: "It's important! I always thought your skin looked nicer than mine, but on the card you're so tan! How'd you turn white again, Yuui-san?" (≧▽≦)
Yuui: "..."
Alicia: "Yuui-san? Ow—hey!"
Yuui finally burst out from within her, flicking her forehead. "Instead of worrying about my complexion, can't you at least read the effect properly!?"
Alicia puffed her cheeks, a little hurt, though she looked down and read. Then her eyes widened. "Yuui-san, your effect… it's so strong! But… I don't even know what monster I can Fusion Summon with you!"
Having long since learned that Yuui was the true Fallen of Albaz, she wasn't surprised by the card's name, nor did she react with the fear and reverence others might when hearing that name.
Instead, she was simply puzzled. Her Extra Deck only contained Elemental HERO Fusions… all of which required HERO monsters. What could Yuui's card possibly summon?
Yuui only smiled vaguely. "Don't worry about that. Just summon me, and activate my effect. Leave the rest to me."
Seeing that expression, Alicia hesitated briefly, then nodded firmly. "All right, Yuui-san—I trust you!"
She slammed the card onto her Duel Disk. "I Normal Summon Fallen of Albaz in Attack Position!!"
Elina's eyes flew wide open. "You… you said you're summoning what!?"
...
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