SWNOVELXO Chapter 52: DSMW [52]
"Wha-Wh-What... What is happening?!"
Even more bewildered than Miles, who had been pulled back into the Millennium Puzzle, was Aisha—suddenly swapped onto the Duel Field.
She had been comfortably spectating from the Puzzle, lazily spinning 666 on her fingers, feeling safe and at ease. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine she'd be forcefully swapped in after being directly attacked by the Pharaoh's sword.
"Duelist swap complete," the Pharaoh declared solemnly. "Yuna, the duel is now yours to continue."
"Me... continue Miles-san's duel... I can't! There's no way! I've never won a duel on my own..."
The more she spoke, the more her confidence crumbled. Let alone the fact that her opponent was the strongest Pharaoh—the same one Miles couldn't defeat—and her hand contained nothing but one useless card.
Her silver ahoge trembled wildly as Aisha panicked under the sudden responsibility.
"Aisha Yuna Carlos. Believe in yourself. You possess qualities that Miles does not. From now on, I hope the two of you will fight by complementing each other, not by relying solely on Miles."
The Pharaoh set down his Duel Disk and declared the end of his turn.
"Complement each other... me and Aisha..."
Adding to his earlier words, the Pharaoh's warning struck directly at Miles's heart.
Only now did Miles realize that every duel so far had essentially been him fighting on Aisha's behalf.
It felt as if he simply helped Aisha win every duel, and everything would work out perfectly.
But... was that really the right way?
Making Aisha admire him, rely on him, become unable to function without him… Was this truly the best relationship to have with a host in a different world?
Sure, ever since Miles crossed over, Aisha had gone from a complete bottom-tier Duelist with a zero-win record to an undefeated elite, standing on par with Kevin Seth.
However... was that really a strength?
Winning duels at Fusion Academy had indeed earned them credits and Magic Points, leading to the crafting of stronger Spells and Traps.
Yet, Aisha's mindset—her very essence—hadn't changed at all.
Even when Irene managed to summon Elemental HERO Sparkman, Aisha was still summoning weak, non-effect, and Normal Monsters every Thursday during Summoning Class.
True growth... true strength... wasn't supposed to be like this.
"Listen, Aisha."
"Huh?"
"If it were just me dueling, this match would already be unwinnable. But you're different. Understand?"
"Even Miles-san can't win this... how could I..."
"Just like the Pharaoh said—believe in yourself. The cards I crafted for you, the strategies I set... they're not enough to win this duel. But you're not the same as me. Inside this Deck, there are choices that belong only to you—possibilities that belong only to you."
"Possibilities... that belong to me?"
Aisha's emerald eyes shifted toward the Deck reflected in the Elves' Eyes.
"Remember our very first duel, Aisha. The victory we seized that day was one only the two of us could achieve together."
"The first duel..."
That duel against Kevin Seth.
It was the first time Aisha and Miles truly fought together, with their future riding on the outcome.
The key turning point of that duel wasn't any card Miles had crafted.
It was Aisha Yuna Carlos's relentless determination over half a year of never giving up.
"I understand, Miles-san. This time... let me take your place. Let's fight side by side!"
A duel even more outrageous than the one against Kevin Seth.
A true battle of weakest versus strongest.
Aisha Carlos had only this one draw left.
Her fair fingers rested atop the Deck reflected in the Elves' Eyes. Ever since Miles had come into her life, it had been a long time since Aisha had felt the sensation of drawing a card herself.
In the past, every draw was filled with confusion—as if every card led her closer to defeat.
Now... it was different.
After witnessing so many of Miles's duels, Aisha had come to understand her Deck anew. She saw hope. Even if she lost, it didn't matter. The path illuminated by fighting with all her strength... that was the road to growth.
"My turn! Draw!"
The long-lost excitement of drawing with her own hands ignited something inside her—something called fighting spirit.
"Heh." The Pharaoh smiled in satisfaction. "After your draw, my Continuous Trap [Court of Cards] activates! Once per turn, I can revive [King's Knight] from my Graveyard!"
[King's Knight] ATK: 1600
The royal warrior King raised his golden shield once more. Thanks to the Continuous Trap's absurd ability to endlessly maintain board presence, the gap between them only widened.
If nothing unexpected happened, Miles and Aisha would be crushed next turn by the fully assembled royal trio.
The only hope left was Aisha's draw.
And the possibility that Miles mentioned—one that belonged solely to her.
"This card is... Miles-san!"
"It's our final gamble, Aisha!"
"Yeah!"
Aisha & Miles: "I activate the Spell Card Exchange!"
The card that carried the hope of a comeback wasn't one Miles had crafted. It was the very first D-rank Spell Aisha had ever chosen herself.
"According to [Exchange]'s effect, let's swap our hands, Pharaoh."
Aisha had only one card left—[White Duston]. The Pharaoh had no choice but to accept it.
But Aisha, in turn, could choose one from the Pharaoh's extra four cards.
"You've found your own answer, Yuna. Then, as your reward... pick any card you like."
After taking Aisha's [White Duston], the Pharaoh laid his hand open without reservation.
"!!!"
Each card had an artwork Aisha had never seen before.
Their rarity was entirely unknown—as if they didn't even belong to this world's card pool. Despite not recognizing a single one, Aisha's gaze was immediately drawn to a particular card.
As if guided by a dazzling light, her fair finger tapped it.
"I'll choose this one."
"Take it. She says she wants to go with you."
The Pharaoh handed over the card with a smile.
"Alright... I end my turn."
Gripping the newly acquired card, Aisha made no plays at all. She simply passed the turn with an empty board.
"My turn. Draw. Then my Continuous Trap [Court of Cards] activates again—reviving [Queen's Knight] from my Graveyard!"
[Queen's Knight] ATK: 1500
With a single card, the Pharaoh had fully revived the three royal knights. Just that board state alone was more than Aisha's current Deck could handle.
"Now that I've seen how Miles unlocks a monster's potential... Show me the brilliance of your heart, Yuna! Jack's Knight, direct attack!"
"Now! I activate a monster effect from my hand!"
Raising the card she got from the Pharaoh high above her head, Aisha felt something for the first time in a duel—courage.
Even when facing the strongest... she would fight bravely.
This was the most important lesson Miles had taught her as a Duelist.
At the tip of her fingers... a hopeful light of comeback bloomed.
"Goddess of Sweet Revenge!"
...
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