SWNOVELXO Chapter 35: DSMW [35]
Miles still vaguely remembered parts of the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime he had watched as a child.
Among them, one of the most iconic "rule-bending" moments from the early series left a deep impression on him.
It was when Yugi used [Makiu, the Magical Mist] to soak the Great Moth, then claimed that water conducts electricity to boost the Attack of his Thunder monsters, turning the tide of the duel.
Back then, when little Miles, still an adorable kid, witnessed that legendary reversal, he couldn't help but exclaim:
"That was so cool!"
But years later, when Miles personally encountered the officially effect-legal version of [Makiu, the Magical Mist] and [Archfiend's Awakening] in a duel, it wasn't nearly as fun anymore.
"This is way too painful!"
"Squeak squeak squeak (WTF)!"
The [Amulet of Ambition], which only increases Attack during battle, meant that the Defense of [Volcanic Rat] in a non-battle state was far lower than the Attack of [Archfiend's Awakening], so naturally it couldn't survive the destruction effect of [Makiu, the Magical Mist].
As the Monster Card [Volcanic Rat] was destroyed, the B-rank Equip Spell [Amulet of Ambition] was also destroyed.
Yet the true source of Miles's pain was the Shadow Game itself.
Any damage the monsters took in the Shadow Game would directly reflect onto the controller's body.
"Hiss—!"
Aisha's body shuddered as the electric shock surged from the crown of her head to the soles of her feet, the pain and numbness terrifyingly real.
"So this is real Shadow Game damage? Playing cards is actually this dangerous... Wait, why do I feel wet down there too?"
Aisha immediately blurted out, "It's the rain! It must be because of the rain, Miles-san!"
"Yeah, you're right."
'Phew, that was close~'
Aisha Yuna Carlos almost died of social embarrassment right then and there behind Fusion Academy.
Soaked from [Makiu, the Magical Mist], the discomfort was real. But compared to the severe consequences of losing a Shadow Game, this was nothing—like a light drizzle.
"During the turn, I activate the Spell Card [Makiu, the Magical Mist], I can't conduct a Battle Phase, so I end my turn."
Perhaps to balance its powerful destruction effect, this card came with the downside of preventing battle the turn it's activated.
This spared Miles, who now had an empty field, from another direct hit from [Archfiend's Awakening] in the Shadow Game.
"Since you can't attack this turn, that means your [Makiu, the Magical Mist] was a wasted play."
"Wasted?" The black-robed man sneered. "Heh, making you lose your B-rank Equip Spell [Amulet of Ambition] is exactly what [Makiu, the Magical Mist] was for. Without it, you'll never be able to resist my Archfiend!"
A B-rank Equip Spell... The black-robed man didn't believe a student like Aisha could possibly have a second one.
After all, Spell/Trap cards crafted from Magic Points had another trait—exponential consumption.
If crafting the first [Amulet of Ambition] cost 100 Magic Points, then the second would cost 200, and the third a terrifying 400, equivalent to crafting an A-rank Forbidden Card. This increasing cost discouraged most duelists from putting multiple copies of the same Spell or Trap in their decks, unless absolutely necessary.
"Oh? Then let me make a bold prediction."
Miles guided Aisha's slender fingers, her pale fingertips pressing onto the Spirit Eyes deck, a mysterious smile spreading across his face.
"I predict... this draw... will be another [Amulet of Ambition]."
"Impossible!"
The black-robed man flatly rejected the idea.
Even if the girl had enough Magic Points to craft a second B-rank Spell, there was no way she could guarantee drawing it right now.
"You're just bluffing!"
"Bluff or not, keep your eyes wide open and see for yourself. My turn—Draw!"
As the card slid from the deck, Miles's fingertips seemed to trace a streak of golden light across the night. Without even looking at it himself, he flipped the card over to show the black-robed man.
Equip Spell [Amulet of Ambition]
"Bakana—No way!"
The black-robed man couldn't believe his eyes. Even after countless Shadow Games, he'd never witnessed something this absurd.
"As expected, no one knows this card's effect."
At the same time, seeing the man's reaction, Miles confirmed his suspicion.
This B-rank Equip Spell [Amulet of Ambition] wasn't like other well-known utility B-rank cards. It existed only within Aisha's "Magic Directory"—a card exclusive to her ragtag deck.
In other words, it was just like a HERO's or a Blue-Eyes' dedicated support card.
Which meant... after all the effort Miles had put in, the "Magic Directory" had finally acknowledged Aisha's junk cards as their own archetype—Weakling Tribe.
"Heh, this is the second effect of [Amulet of Ambition]—"
[When this card is sent to the Graveyard, it can return to the top of the Deck.]
The reason Miles could guarantee he'd draw it again was because when [Amulet of Ambition] was sent to the Graveyard, he chose to place it back on top of the Deck.
"A recycling effect... Kid, are you messing with me?"
The black-robed man, feeling thoroughly insulted, grew even angrier.
"Don't blame others for your own stupidity, old man."
Cranking the taunt meter to max, provoking the opponent into losing their cool, was one of Miles's go-to tactics in card battles.
Downside: Real-life duels tended to turn into fistfights.
"Time to move! I Normal Summon Level 1 [Mokey Mokey] in Attack Position, then equip [Amulet of Ambition]. Battle!"
[Mokey Mokey, ATK: 300 + 2500 → 2800]
Summon, equip, attack—all in one smooth motion. The tofu-block-shaped monster materialized in the darkness, instantly swelling in size as it charged straight at [Archfiend's Awakening].
Even though Mokey Mokey's base Attack was 200 lower than [Volcanic Rat] and nowhere near Blue-Eyes level, it still surpassed the Archfiend's 2500 Attack.
[Dark Duelist, LP: 3500 → 3200]
The battle damage went through.
However, the now-enlarged and squishy Mokey Mokey didn't destroy the opposing monster or send it to the Graveyard.
"Heh, little girl, did you think the same trick would work twice on me?"
"What are you, a Saint Seiya?"
"Ritual Monster [Archfiend's Awakening]'s special effect—"
[This card on the field cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects from non-Ritual Monsters.]
Blasting Mokey Mokey away with a surge of lightning, [Archfiend's Awakening] remained completely intact, still standing firm on the field.
"If you're not using a Ritual Monster, you can't defeat [Archfiend's Awakening]! Do you think your band of weaklings can do it?"
...
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