SWNOVELXO Chapter 36: DSMW [36]
"If we don't use a Ritual Monster, we can't destroy it in battle? So that's how this effect works."
Upon learning the resistance effect of [Archfiend's Awakening], Miles's expression shifted slightly, though he showed no signs of panic.
In contrast, Aisha couldn't hold back and directly pointed out the key problem.
"What do we do, Miles-san? Our Deck doesn't have any Ritual Monsters at all! Doesn't that mean there's absolutely no way to break through it?"
"Shh. Even if we don't have a Ritual Monster, we can't just reveal that outright. Remember, always stay calm during a Duel and try not to let the opponent see through your hand."
Of course, what Aisha said was undeniably the truth.
In this pile of junk cards, there was no Ritual at all—meaning there was no Ritual Monster capable of defeating [Archfiend's Awakening].
"But... Not being able to defeat [Archfiend's Awakening] doesn't mean we have no way to win."
Miles's emerald eyes inadvertently glanced at the card set face-down in the previous turn.
—The path to redemption was hidden there.
"Heh. Feeling that despair creeping out from the darkness, little girl?"
"Not at all."
The Battle Phase ended. Though Miles had a way to win this Duel, the crucial components weren't fully gathered yet. For now, they could only hope that Mokey Mokey, equipped with the [Amulet of Ambition], could buy them some more time.
"I set one card and end my turn."
Flipping down the second set card onto the Field, Miles ended this rather miserable and rough turn.
"Tch, what a stubborn little girl. I hope when you lose this Duel, you'll still keep that defiant attitude."
As the turn passed over, the robed man's eyes flickered with barely concealed joy upon drawing his card.
This draw was absolutely crucial.
"—Quick-Play Spell [Mystical Space Typhoon], activate!"
[Target 1 Spell/Trap on the Field; destroy it.]
A B-Rank rarity card with the classic effect of destroying an opponent's backrow Spell or Trap.
A cyclone surged from the ground, gathering and twisting toward Aisha's Spell & Trap Zone, locking onto the Equip Spell [Amulet of Ambition] before shredding it into pieces.
Activate the retrieval effect?
"No, send it to the Graveyard."
This time, Miles chose not to retrieve the Equip Spell.
For a simple reason—Miles no longer had any more junk monsters in hand to equip it to.
Moreover, with the Ritual Monster [Archfiend's Awakening] on the Field, [Amulet of Ambition] could no longer secure victory; worse yet, it might prevent drawing the key card needed.
"Hahaha! You might as well have retrieved that Equip Spell of yours—it wouldn't make a difference anyway. You're doomed this turn!"
The robed man continued to throw down another card, a highly familiar B-Rank Spell.
"Losing to a fellow Fusion Academy student's card... well, let's call that fate. —Spell Card [Monster Reborn], activate!"
Aisha said, "That guy... he's using Mizuki's card directly?!"
Indeed, the robed man had stolen this B-Rank rare card from Mizuki's Deck. Its effect was brutally simple.
[Target 1 monster in either player's Graveyard; Special Summon it.]
"Return to my Field, [Summoned Skull]!"
[Summoned Skull] ATK: 2500
Holy light intertwined with thunderous lightning. The [Summoned Skull] that Miles had defeated earlier now returned from the Graveyard.
"Now, I have two monsters with 2500 Attack on my Field, while you've lost your Equip Spell's boost. You only have one pathetic monster left—and it's even in Attack Position. The Duel is over, little girl!"
On the left and right, the two terrifying demons clad in skeletal armor flanked Mokey Mokey, whose face bore a confused question mark expression, looking both pitiful and helpless.
"First strike, Demon Lightning! Destroy your monster!"
Lightning tore through the dark night, illuminating the sky—and reduced the block of tofu into charred ash.
[Aisha, LP: 4000 → 1800]
This time, they'd prepared to handle the real damage of a Shadow Game. Even as the thunderous strike pierced through Aisha's body, Miles gritted his teeth and endured without screaming miserably like Mizuki had.
"Tough one, aren't you, little girl? Let's see how you handle this—second strike, Demon Lightning, direct attack! I win!"
[Summoned Skull] summoned another bolt of lightning, hurling it toward Miles.
Naturally, there was no way Miles could take this fatal direct attack. He flipped over the card set in the previous turn.
"—Trap Card, [Pinpoint Guard]!"
[When an opponent's monster declares an attack, Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower monster from your Graveyard in Defense Position. That monster cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects this turn.]
"I Special Summon Mokey Mokey with [Pinpoint Guard] to block this attack. I'm counting on you!"
[Mokey Mokey] DEF: 100
Despite its mere 100 Defense, thanks to the protection granted by the C-Rank Trap [Pinpoint Guard], which prevented it from being destroyed by battle this turn, the resilient little block of tofu successfully absorbed the full force of the incoming lightning.
...Then turned into a piece of crispy fried black tofu, emitting a tempting roasted aroma.
"Tch. Barely hanging on, huh."
The robed man clicked his tongue in annoyance, utterly unaware that he had fallen completely into Miles's trap.
Calling it a "trap" might be overstating it—but it still needed one final piece of the puzzle.
"You have no cards left in hand, right?" Miles said.
"So what?"
"Your monsters have all attacked, right?"
"So what?!"
"I'm going to forcefully end your turn!"
"Huh?!"
Technically, the rules of Duel Monsters have no way to forcefully end an opponent's turn.
But for someone like the robed man, who had emptied his hand and finished attacking with all his monsters, there was nothing left to do anyway.
In moments like this, Miles remembered how protagonists in the anime would activate a skill—forcefully ending the opponent's turn.
And that skill always came with a double buff: comeback and a miracle draw.
"You've gotta be out of your damn mind."
"No, I'm perfectly sane. And in the instant your turn ends, I activate the Trap Card—[The League of Uniform Nomenclature]!"
This was the path to salvation—the card Miles had set face-down on the very first turn. It was the key to breaking through the indestructible [Archfiend's Awakening] and winning the Shadow Game.
A strategy that, without a doubt, represented the highest form Aisha's junk Deck could possibly reach.
...
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