"Kill him!!"
"Summoned Skull, kill him!!"
"I won! Hahaha!!"
"1-to-3 odds… damn it, with odds that high, of course it wasn't possible to win!"
"A Duelist with ten straight victories… no wonder not just anyone can beat him!"
"Sigh, I wonder who the next unlucky bastard will be!"
"Who cares? I've already made plenty of money off him. If he dies, he dies!"
...
In the roaring, packed circular arena, thousands of spectators watched the bloody Duel below.
A thin but muscular man with demonic tattoos on his face wore a cruel grin as he waved his hand. "Go, my ace! Archfiend Manifest! Direct attack—Hellfall Thunder!!"
"Gah!!"
The skeletal fiend spread its blue‑violet wings and roared, purple lightning rippling across its entire body. A dark cloud formed over its opponent's head, then a purple thunderbolt struck down.
"AAAAAH!!!"
The agonized scream echoed throughout the circular arena. Instead of recoiling in horror, the surrounding crowd only grew more excited.
"Yes! That's it, that's it!!"
"This is what I came to see! Kill him!!"
"Hahahahaha!!"
"So what if he's a Duelist? He's still gonna die!! Hahaha!!"
...
In the crowd, staring at the familiar madness in the surrounding faces, Alicia felt that old discomfort surge back.
Even though she'd witnessed scenes like this countless times before, as a normal person, she could never truly adapt to such naked displays of human cruelty.
"So? Are you going, or should I?" Yuui appeared beside her, watching the tattoo‑faced Duelist laughing madly below.
"Yuui‑san, you go. This opponent is peak Great Magician level… I can't beat him."
"Alright. I was planning to test the power of Odd‑Eyes Dragon anyway. Lately, he's given me a few cards derived from his strength; this is a good chance to try them out."
"Mhm."
Just as Alicia was about to head to the registration counter for the arena matches, the host suddenly shouted:
"Now, let's begin the next match!!!"
"Today's Duelists: the one who has already achieved eight consecutive arena victories—Black Witch—and the one with five consecutive victories—Vampire King!!"
"Let's see who will extend their streak and become today's next winner!!!"
"Black Witch!! I'm betting all my money on you!!"
"Vampire King! Tear her apart!!"
"I want to see rivers of blood!!"
"Go, Witch‑sama!!"
...
"Black Witch?" Hearing the title, Alicia stopped instantly.
'Black Witch' was the title of Alice's ace monster… Diabellstar. She never expected someone else to be using it as a title.
Abruptly, the next moment, she spotted a familiar silhouette.
At the lower entrance, two masked figures—one man, one woman—walked into the arena.
The man was thin, deathly pale, looking severely malnourished. Even from far away, Alicia could feel the ominous pressure radiating from him.
The woman, meanwhile, had a curvy figure and long, silky black hair cascading behind her. Her violet eyes gleamed with icy light.
The instant Alicia saw that figure, she instinctively whispered the name:
"Alice?"
For Alicia, who had only ever had one person she could call a friend, it took only a single glance to recognize her. Anyhow, why was Alice here? And judging by the ''seven straight wins'' and ''Black Witch'' title… she had unquestionably been here for quite some time.
Alicia couldn't understand. So she chose to stop and watch this Duel.
Besides, come to think of it… she had never actually seen Alice Duel before.
On the field, as the host's flamboyant introduction heated the crowd even further, he shouted:
"Now, let us begin this Duel of schemes, bloodshed, and treachery! Duel, begin!!!"
"Duel!!" ×2
[Black Witch, LP: 4000]
[Vampire King, LP: 4000]
"Hehehe… I'll take the first turn. Draw!!" The self‑proclaimed Vampire King let out a cold laugh. "I activate the Spell Card Graceful Charity, draw three cards, and discard two!"
"And next is the effect of Vampire Retainer that was just sent to the Graveyard. Once per turn, if this card is in the Graveyard, you can send 1 Vampire card from your hand or face-up field to the Graveyard; Special Summon this card.
"I choose to discard Vampire Familiar from my hand and Special Summon Vampire Retainer!!"
Purple-black mist spread across the field. A half-hound, half-demonic wolf creature materialized, baring sharp fangs at the black-haired girl across from it.
[Vampire Retainer, ATK 1200]
"And at this moment, Vampire Retainer's other effect activates. Once per turn, when this card is Special Summoned, I can pay 500 Life Points to add 1 Vampire Spell/Trap from my Deck to my hand."
The gaunt man laughed coldly and waved his hand. "I pay 500 Life Points and add the Continuous Spell Vampire Domain from my Deck to my hand!"
[Vampire King, LP: 4000 → 3500]
The silver Duel Disk ejected a card. The man plucked it out and continued: "Next, the effect of Vampire Familiar in the Graveyard. While this card is in the Graveyard, I can also send 1 Vampire card from my hand or face-up field to the Graveyard to Special Summon it.
"I send Vampire Grace from my hand to the Graveyard and Special Summon Vampire Familiar!!"
[Vampire Familiar, DEF 0]
"Vampire Familiar's other effect activates. When this card is Special Summoned, I pay 500 Life Points to add 1 Vampire monster except Vampire Familiar from my Deck to my hand. I choose my ace—Vampire Genesis!!!"
[Vampire King, LP: 3500 → 3000]
A card popped out of his Deck automatically. As the man drew it, a towering, dark-purple spectral beast rose behind him—his Duel Spirit, Vampire Genesis.
"Then I Tribute Vampire Familiar on my field to Tribute Summon Vampire Lord!!"
[Vampire Lord, ATK 2000]
"Next, the effect of Vampire Genesis in my hand. This card cannot be Normal Summoned. I can Special Summon it by banishing 1 Vampire Lord I control.
"I banish Vampire Lord to Special Summon it. Come forth, the creator of the Vampire domain, the strongest of all Vampires—Vampire Genesis!!"
Thick darkness swallowed Vampire Lord, then gathered into an enormous shadowy form.
It unfurled massive wings like monstrous claws. Its huge, dark-purple body was layered with rock-like muscle, and when it opened its razor fangs, a foul breath spilled forth.
The legendary progenitor of the Vampire race—Vampire Genesis—had descended.
[Vampire Genesis, ATK 3000]
"There it is! The strongest monster of contestant 'Vampire King'—Vampire Genesis! Said to rival even the 'White Dragon that Protects the Nation' in power! Its abilities let it command all Vampire monsters!!"
The host's ragged shout ignited the crowd.
"Rip that girl apart, Vampire Genesis!!"
"I want blood! Blood!!"
"Starting with Vampire Genesis? Guaranteed win! With 1:2 odds, I'm gonna get rich again!!"
"Black Witch-sama, please win!! I bet the rest of my life savings on you!!"
...
The deafening cheers irritated Alicia. She stared at the black-haired woman below.
"Is it really you, Alice…?"
On the field, the gaunt man continued shouting:
"I'm not done yet! I activate Vampire Genesis's effect! Once per turn, I can discard 1 Zombie monster from my hand to Special Summon 1 Zombie monster with a lower Level from my Graveyard.
"I discard the Level 8 monster Despair from the Dark, and Special Summon Vampire Grace from my Graveyard!!"
[Vampire Grace, DEF 1200]
"Then I activate the Continuous Spell Vampire Domain!!"
A crimson domain spread outward from the Spell Card. The gaunt man explained with a grin:
"As long as this card is on the field, whenever my Vampire monsters inflict battle damage to you, I gain that same amount of Life Points.
"And I activate its other effect! Once per turn, I can pay 500 Life Points to gain an additional Normal Summon of a Vampire monster during this Main Phase.
"I pay another 500 Life Points, Tribute Vampire Retainer on my field, and Tribute Summon Vampire Grimson in Defense Position!!"
[Vampire King, LP: 3000 → 2500]
[Vampire Grimson, DEF 1400]
"Lastly, I Set 1 card and end my turn!"
He inserted his last card into his Duel Disk. As he exhaled, he licked his dry lips while staring at the Black Witch's curvy figure with a twisted smile.
"I hope your blood gives my Vampires a good feast, woman!!"
The Black Witch replied coldly, "Pathetic man. I'll finish you in one turn."
"Oh? I'll be waiting, beautiful lady. Hehehe…" His smile contorted even further.
"Hmph!" The Black Witch scoffed and flicked her hand. "My turn—draw! I Normal Summon Snake-Eye Birch!!"
A red orb like a gemstone appeared on the field. Purple flames ignited around it, and chunks of wood-like yet metal-like material fused with the flame.
Finally, a beast-like creature with a red core and a body of violet fire took shape.
[Snake-Eye Birch, DEF 2100]
Yuui said calmly, "Well, there's no need to guess anymore. If a Snake-Eye came out… then the one down there is definitely Alice."
...
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