"Shaddoll Fusion?"
Hearing the name, Hayley immediately realized it must be the core Fusion Spell of Morgan's deck. Combined with the Shaddoll Fusion Monsters' ability to retrieve Spells and Traps from the Graveyard when destroyed, it was clear Morgan intended to add Fusion back to her hand next turn through monster effects.
Hayley wanted to stop her, but for now, she couldn't break through Morgan's monsters.
She hadn't expected the situation to turn around in a single turn… now she was the one embarrassed.
She had planned to finish Morgan then and there, only to have her face slapped so fast.
On the spectator's stand, Hannah let out a sigh of relief. Better to see Morgan reveal her plays than to remain unsure of her resources. She had never put her hopes on Hayley anyway.
"Luli, get ready—you'll likely be up soon," Hannah said into her headset.
"I'm ready. I can go anytime," came Luli's ethereal reply. Hannah exhaled. At least one person wasn't giving her trouble.
Morgan's move wasn't over yet. With a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck on the field, she could now drop another card from her hand.
"I activate the effect of Dogmatika Fleurdelis, the Knighted in my hand!"
"If a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck is on the field, this can be activated during either player's Main Phase."
"I Special Summon it from my hand!"
A knight clad head to toe in armor appeared on the field, its gender indistinguishable. Wearing a helmet shaped like a rhino's horn, wielding a greatsword and shield, its silver cloak billowed through the air.
[Dogmatika Fleurdelis, the Knighted] Level 8│LIGHT│Spellcaster│2500 ATK / 2500 DEF
She Special Summoned another monster? On my turn?
Hayley gritted her teeth.
Nonetheless, there was nothing she could do against these two monsters. She had more monsters on her field, but their Attack power was far inferior, and she had no idea what effects Morgan's monsters might carry… If she slipped up and lost them on her own turn, she'd be finished next turn.
After a moment of thought, Hayley decided not to attack recklessly, instead glancing toward Morgan's other set card.
If one was Shaddoll Schism, what was the other?
In truth, the other was simply a defensive option. If her Special Summon was disrupted, Morgan could use Shaddoll Core to create a monster to block an attack. Though for now, she didn't need it.
Seeing Morgan's counterattack during her opponent's turn, the spectators' tone shifted once again. From doubt, to acknowledgment, to praise.
Doubt, doubt, then certainty.
"I knew it! Morgan couldn't be helpless—she was acting!"
"No wonder she didn't counter immediately… she was saving it for her opponent's turn. I underestimated her."
"I admit I was loud earlier, but I'll say this now: I'll always believe in Morgan."
"To bring out two high-level monsters during her opponent's turn… Hayley's lost her chance. She won't be able to stop Morgan's plays next turn."
Seeing Morgan escape from danger so quickly, Jade also let out a sigh of relief, though her heart tightened again. Even if Morgan beat Hayley here, the duel wasn't over. The final ace player hadn't even appeared yet, and if the first two were this strong, the last was bound to be formidable.
Could Morgan, after defeating two opponents in a row, still muster the strength to overcome the final one and win the championship for her team? Jade wasn't sure.
Nevertheless, Isla was confident. She had correctly predicted Morgan's move earlier, meaning Morgan was consciously preserving her resources for the last duel.
Her opponents were clearly prepared as well—the first two had only been meant to wear Morgan down.
Unifrog's destruction, Judgment Dragon's wipe—they had all been attempts to force her to burn through her resources.
But they hadn't succeeded.
The crucial Aleister the Invoker and Shaddoll Schism were still in Morgan's grasp. It was clear the final duel would be a fierce one.
Now, with no way to break through Morgan's monsters, Hayley ended her turn.
Her deck was almost drained. Failing to defeat Morgan in one turn meant handing the baton to Luli. Remembering her cocky words in the headset earlier, her face burned with shame. The more certain she had sounded before, the more awkward it felt now.
"My turn ends."
Hearing this, Luli shook her head. She didn't mock Hayley—there was no need. From the start, the strategy had always been for her to defeat Morgan. Yet, the first two had thought they'd found an opportunity, eager to claim glory by felling Morgan. Instead, they'd been crushed, leaving Morgan barely scratched.
The plan's opening stage had failed, and now Luli herself would face Morgan in a bitter fight.
Luli took a deep breath, her small hand tightening around the handle of her D-Wheel, waiting for her turn.
"My turn—draw!"
Watching Hayley caught between advancing and retreating, Morgan smiled.
As an experienced Duelist, how could she not see through such flimsy strategies?
All she had to do was lead her opponent into thinking they'd found an opening, tempting them into abandoning their plans in order to strike her down. That had been Morgan's aim all along.
Now the final duel was about to begin. No more holding back—time to reveal her hand.
She had been baiting them all along.
"I activate the Equip Spell, Dogmatikacism, from my hand!"
"If the equipped monster is a Dogmatika monster, it gains ATK equal to its own Level × 100."
"I equip it to Dogmatika Fleurdelis, the Knighted! Her ATK increases by 800!"
Fleurdelis's Attack rose to 3300. And that wasn't all—when she attacked, she would gain another 500, reaching 3800.
Seeing her boosted Attack, Hayley's face went pale. Even Judgment Dragon only had 3000 Attack… against Fleurdelis, it didn't stand a chance.
"Battle! Dogmatika Fleurdelis, the Knighted, attack Lumina, Twilightsworn Shaman!"
After a series of attacks, Hayley's Life Points dropped to zero. She slammed her hand against her D-Wheel in frustration.
A streak of silver light passed her by—it was Luli, racing forward.
She wore no standard helmet, but a strange visor, her flowing long hair dancing in the wind. A silver bodysuit hugged her figure perfectly. Her face was calm, expressionless, yet filled with quiet allure.
She, in no time, caught up to Morgan, drew five cards from her deck, and declared loudly:
"Duel!"
...
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