The purple flaming beast let out a low growl on the field, and at the same time, the black witch—already confirmed to be "Alice"—shouted: "Then I activate the Spell Card Original Sinful Spoils - Snake-Eye. By sending 1 face-up card I control other than this card to the Graveyard, I can activate it. I Special Summon 1 FIRE, Level 1 monster from my hand or Deck.
"I choose to send Snake-Eye Birch from my field to the Graveyard, then Special Summon Snake-Eye Ash from my Deck!"
A wash of Spell energy erupted, and a mass of blue flames swallowed the beast. What reappeared was a monster whose body was shaped from blue fire, with branches forming its bones and a red eye-orb serving as its core.
[Snake-Eye Ash, DEF 1000]
"Snake-Eye Ash's effect activates. When this card is Normal or Special Summoned, I can add 1 FIRE, Level 1 monster from my Deck to my hand. The monster I choose to add is Snake-Eye Poplar!"
The Duel Disk ejected a card, and after drawing it out, the black witch immediately held it up and shouted: "Snake-Eye Poplar's effect—when this card is added to the hand by a method other than drawing, I can activate it. I Special Summon this card."
A tiny creature with a pink body wrapped in pale-blue flames, topped by a dark red eye-like gem, appeared on the field.
[Snake-Eye Poplar, DEF 200]
"Snake-Eye Poplar's effect—when this card is Normal or Special Summoned, I add 1 Snake-Eye Spell/Trap from my Deck to my hand. I choose the Spell Card WANTED: Seeker of Sinful Spoils!"
"Then I activate the Spell Card WANTED: Seeker of Sinful Spoils. I add 1 Diabellstar monster from my Deck or Graveyard to my hand. I choose Diabellstar the Black Witch from my Deck!"
With a clicking sound, another card popped from her Deck. The moment Alice drew it out, Alicia instantly recognized that familiar white-haired sorceress—this time, Alicia could finally be certain: the black witch below was indeed Alice.
Alice raised her card and shouted: "Diabellstar the Black Witch's effect—this card can be Special Summoned from the hand by sending 1 card from your hand or field to the Graveyard.
"I choose to send Snake-Eyes Diabellstar from my hand to the Graveyard, then Special Summon—as the black witch who hunts demons in blood-soaked vengeance—Diabellstar the Black Witch!!"
Red magic surged skyward like flames. Then crisp, sharp footsteps echoed across the field. Every spectator stared, unblinking, at the white-haired woman who walked out from the fire.
Her tight battle-suit of black outside and red within displayed her curves without reservation. Her broken oni mask added a dangerous allure to her blade-like beauty. And anyone who thought she was merely posturing would quickly learn the reason she was called a witch—the black blade she carried made that very clear.
Diabellstar the Black Witch, descends!
[Diabellstar the Black Witch, ATK 2500]
"She appears! The ace monster of the 'Black Witch' duelist… an ultra-rare monster no one had ever heard of before—Diabellstar the Black Witch!!"
"Trample everything, Diabellstar!!!"
"Beautiful... too beautiful!!"
"A pity she's only a Spirit. Otherwise, I'd absolutely claim her!!"
"She's a Spellcaster but fights with a blade… this contrast is irresistible!!"
In the stands, Alicia stared blankly at the spectators going mad over Diabellstar. Then she cast a disdainful glance at the frenzied men.
"As expected, not a single man is decent."
"Ahem!" Yuui coughed twice involuntarily. Alicia glanced at him and said with a flat, emotionless voice: "Yuui-san, you don't count as a man, because right now, you're not human."
A critical hit. Yuui might not have a heart at the moment, but somehow, he felt a stabbing pain in his chest.
Below, the gaunt man stared at the Diabellstar on Alice's field and licked his dry lips again, even swallowing audibly.
"As expected of the 'Black Witch'! Not only is the duelist beautiful, but even her monsters are gorgeous. I can't wait to hear your screams… hehe!!"
Alice ignored the pervert and the frenzied crowd. A few days ago, she might have answered them with equally wild behavior, but recently she'd had no such mood. She only wanted to soothe her irritation with the suffering and cries of these pieces of trash.
She waved her hand: "Diabellstar's effect—when this card is Normal or Special Summoned, I Set 1 Sinful Spoils Spell/Trap from my Deck. I choose to Set the Spell Card Sinful Spoils of Subversion - Snake-Eye!"
After inserting the card into her Duel Disk, Alice at once continued: "Then I activate Sinful Spoils of Subversion's effect. I target 1 face-up monster on the field. That monster is placed face-up in its owner's Spell/Trap Zone as a Continuous Spell.
"I target your Vampire Genesis, placing it in your back row as a Continuous Spell!!"
"Hmph, I knew it!" the gaunt man snapped. "I already know how to counter your little trick. Open face-down—Trap Card, Altar for Tribute! I choose 1 monster I control, send it to the Graveyard, then I recover Life Points equal to its original ATK.
"I choose Vampire Genesis on my field—sending it to the Graveyard to recover its ATK in Life Points!! Become my nourishment, Vampire Genesis!!"
A massive altar swallowed Vampire Genesis, and the gaunt man's previously depleted Life Points, weakened by his own Vampire effects, suddenly surged.
[Vampire King, LP 2500 → LP 5500]
"Let's see you defeat me in one turn now! Hehehe!" the gaunt man laughed coldly at Alice.
His confidence came from two reasons. First, the Vampire Grimson on his field had the effect: "If a monster you control would be destroyed by battle or card effect, you can pay LP equal to 1000 × the number of monsters that would be destroyed instead."
As long as he had that effect, he could protect his monsters by paying LP—unless that woman could attack six times in one turn, she couldn't beat him.
Second, he had a monster buried in his Graveyard—Bacon Saver. It was one of the two cards he discarded with Graceful Charity. This monster could negate one monster attack during the opponent's turn. With that card, his survivability was even higher.
If he could just survive this turn, he was certain he could draw a card next turn that would completely reverse the situation.
And the reason he knew exactly what he'd draw was simple—he cheated.
After all, this was an underground Duel venue. A place where victory was gained by any means. No one had ever said cheating was forbidden!
"Heheheh!"
The moment the thought surfaced, the gaunt man couldn't suppress his laughter again. Staring at Alice's alluring body and her icy gaze, he could hardly wait to see this woman's blood and hear her agonized screams.
Abruptly, then Alice said: "Next, I activate the other effect of the Quick-Play Spell WANTED: Seeker of Sinful Spoils in my Graveyard. During my Main Phase, I banish this card, then target 1 Sinful Spoils Spell/Trap in my Graveyard or banished zone with a different name. That card is returned to the bottom of the Deck. After that, I draw 1 card.
"I choose to return Sinful Spoils of Subversion - Snake-Eye from my Graveyard to the bottom of my Deck, then draw 1 card!"
Glancing briefly at the newly drawn card, Alice continued: "Next, I activate the other effect of Snake-Eye Ash. By sending this card and 1 other face-up card I control to the Graveyard, I Special Summon 1 Snake-Eye monster with a different name from my hand or Deck.
"I send Snake-Eye Ash and Snake-Eye Poplar from my field to the Graveyard, then Special Summon—Snake-Eye Flamberge Dragon!!"
The moment she spoke, the blue flames covering Snake-Eye Ash suddenly swelled, swallowing both itself and Snake-Eye Poplar. An earth-shaking roar tore through the night sky.
The cry was both dragon and serpent, overflowing with overwhelming might.
The blue flames expanded, layer by layer, until black scales wrapped around them, forming a massive winged serpent. At its peak, there burned a crimson snake-eye gem.
Snake-Eye Flamberge Dragon, descend!
"Roooar!!!"
[Snake-Eye Flamberge Dragon, ATK 3000]
"A brand-new monster with 3000 ATK! A monster, the Black Witch duelist has never shown before—Snake-Eye Flamberge Dragon has arrived!!"
"Amazing! A 3000-ATK monster summoned so easily!"
"Kill that bastard! Kill him!!"
"Burn him!! That bastard made me lose thousands of gold coins! Kill him!!"
The new monster's appearance ignited the crowd once more. On the field, the gaunt man suddenly felt an ominous chill watching the Flamberge Dragon emerge.
Alice shouted: "Next, the second effect of Snake-Eye Poplar, which was sent to the Graveyard—when this card is sent to the Graveyard, I target 1 FIRE monster in my Graveyard and place it face-up in its owner's Spell/Trap Zone as a Continuous Spell.
"I target Snake-Eyes Diabellstar in my Graveyard and place it in my Spell/Trap Zone."
A massive pink dragon silhouette—clearly the matured form of Snake-Eye Poplar—appeared behind Alice.
"Next is Snake-Eyes Diabellstar's effect. Once per turn, while this card is treated as a Continuous Spell, I target 1 FIRE monster in my Graveyard with a different name and place it face-up in its owner's Spell/Trap Zone as a Continuous Spell. Then this card is Special Summoned."
Alice withdrew a card from her Graveyard and declared: "I choose Snake-Eye Poplar in my Graveyard—placing it in my back row—then I Special Summon Snake-Eyes Diabellstar!!"
Thudding footsteps resounded as the pink dragon silhouette solidified further, pale-blue flames flickering along its body.
[Snake-Eyes Diabellstar, ATK 2800]
"Another monster with over 2500 ATK!?" The gaunt man was dumbfounded. He never expected this woman to summon monsters of this caliber so easily.
But it was fine… he could block seven attacks. There was no way she could defeat him!
Then Alice's eyes sharpened. "Next, I activate Snake-Eye Flamberge Dragon's effect. Once per turn, I target 1 face-up monster on either field—or 1 monster in either Graveyard—and place it face-up in its owner's Spell/Trap Zone as a Continuous Spell.
"I target your Vampire Grace—placing it in your back row as a Continuous Spell. Rebel Blaze!!"
"Roooar!!"
The blazing serpent roared at the woman vampire on the opposite field. The snake-eye gem on its head fired a crimson beam, reverting the monster into a card and hurling it into the gaunt man's Spell/Trap Zone.
The gaunt man was stunned.
His strongest defensive tool had been nullified. Now all he had left were his Life Points, his remaining monster, and the Graveyard trap.
Still, fortunately, his 5500 Life Points were healthy. With the woman's monster ATKs, she still couldn't wipe him out.
As he anxiously tried to reassure himself, Alice abruptly raised her hand.
"Battle Phase. Snake-Eyes Diabellstar—attack Vampire Grace!!"
"Rooaar!!"
The pink dragon roared and spat a blast of blue flame at the noblewoman-like vampire. The gaunt man quickly shouted, "At this moment, I activate the effect of Bacon Saver in my Graveyard! During the Battle Step, when a monster battles, I banish this card to negate that monster's attack. This effect can be used even during the opponent's turn!
"I banish Bacon Saver—negating your Snake-Eyes Diabellstar's attack!!"
A black piglet shot from his Graveyard, blocking the blue flames.
Seeing this, the gaunt man regained his arrogance.
"Now you can't beat me! Next turn, I'll—"
"Battle continues. Diabellstar the Black Witch—attack Vampire Grace!!"
Before he could finish, Alice gave her next command. The gaunt man only snorted coldly—thinking he would destroy her next turn.
Unfortunately for him, there would be no next turn.
"Quick-Play Spell—Sinful Spoils of Doom - Rciela, activate!!" Alice revealed the Spell Card. "I target 1 Level 7 or higher Spellcaster monster I control. That target becomes unaffected by other monsters' effects this turn, and during the next Standby Phase, it's sent to the Graveyard.
"Also, all monsters your opponent controls lose ATK equal to the targeted monster's ATK, and if their ATK becomes 0 by this effect, they are destroyed."
"What!?" The gaunt man paled.
"I target Diabellstar the Black Witch! This turn, she is unaffected by your monsters' effects, and all your monsters with lower ATK than hers will be destroyed!!"
Alice's icy voice echoed across the arena. The Spell activated, and Diabellstar's black blade transformed amidst black-green lightning—into a colossal scythe shaped like blood-red bat wings.
The white-haired witch lunged, swinging the scythe of death. A storm-like slash instantly shredded the vampire noblewoman.
"Since your monster vanished, battle replays—Diabellstar attacks directly! Scythe of Death!!"
The Black Witch slammed the scythe onto the gaunt man. He snapped out of his daze just in time to feel the pain of being cleaved apart.
"Aaaahhhh!!!!"
[Vampire King, LP 5500 → LP 3000]
"Yes!! This is it! This is what I've been waiting for!!"
"Amazing! That scream is amazing!!"
"I win again!!"
"Heh, as expected of the Black Witch. Her strength is undeniable!!"
The man's anguished scream sent the crowd into a frenzy. Everyone cheered wildly, thrilled by the blood-soaked duel.
Alicia looked at the madness in the spectators' faces. The X-shaped brand on her forehead slowly surfaced, her gaze turning empty.
She stared at Alice below and thought: 'Is this what you seek, Alice?'
"Final strike—Snake-Eye Flamberge Dragon, direct attack! Soul-Devouring Blaze!!"
Blue flames engulfed the gaunt man. His screams echoed through the arena, and the black-haired girl's ruthless silhouette burned into everyone's memory.
[Vampire King, LP 3000 → LP 0]
Right then, Alice felt something. She turned toward the stands—and among the frenzied crowd cheering for her, she saw a solitary figure walking away.
...
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