Looking at the card she drew, An'er finally showed a smile.
Yet, her expression instantly hardened again… after all, Morgan hadn't spent many resources last turn, mostly just attacking. An'er, on the other hand, had burned through plenty to try for an OTK, leaving herself with few chances left.
"I activate the Spell Card from my hand, [Lyrilusc - Bird Call]!"
"Add 1 [Lyrilusc] monster from my Deck to my hand!"
"I choose [Lyrilusc - Beryl Canary]!"
An'er immediately began her next chain. The five consecutive direct attacks could not be repeated, but she now aimed to use Assembled Nightingale's other ability. It could detach 1 material, and until the end of the turn, all [Lyrilusc] monsters she controlled would not be destroyed by battle, and any battle damage she took would become zero.
This worked perfectly with [Lyrilusc - Recital Starling], whose effect inflicted the same battle damage to the opponent that An'er took.
However, with Assembled Nightingale's effect nullifying her own damage, only the opponent would take it—a so-called "reflect-burn bird."
"Activate [Lyrilusc - Beryl Canary]'s effect!"
"If this card is in your hand: target 1 [Lyrilusc] monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon both this card and that target!"
"I Special Summon this card and [Lyrilusc - Cobalt Sparrow] from my Graveyard!"
An'er's Deck had no shortage of Special Summon methods, often able to unfold from a single card.
Albeit she didn't understand Morgan's Deck. The Exosisters specialized in punishing Graveyard use—Summoning directly from the Graveyard in front of her was practically an invitation.
That was why the Exosisters could even unfold during the opponent's turn.
"Now, I activate [Exosister Elis]'s effect!"
"If a card leaves either Graveyard by the opponent's effect, you can Special Summon from the Extra Deck, overlaying this card as material onto 1 [Exosister] Xyz Monster!"
"Xyz Summon! [Exosister Asophiel]!"
Elis vanished, replaced by a girl in more elaborate white exorcist robes. She wore golden twin-tails and carried a white bow glowing with sky-blue light, her arrows forming a halo behind her like angelic wings.
[Exosister Asophiel] Level 4│LIGHT│Warrior│2100 ATK / 1800 DEF
Summoning this monster served to shut down the opponent's plays. The turn it was Xyz Summoned, neither player could activate Graveyard effects. By detaching an Overlay, it could also return 1 opponent's monster to the hand.
Though summoned with only one material—giving it just one use—that was enough for Morgan.
"[Exosister Asophiel]'s effect."
"When Xyz Summoned using an [Exosister] monster, this effect activates: this turn, neither player can activate effects in the Graveyard."
Morgan smiled. With this, An'er's revivals from the Graveyard were locked.
An'er ground her teeth in frustration, but there was nothing she could do. Forcing down her anger, she analyzed Morgan's monster. Now it was clear: Morgan's Deck revolved around punishing the Graveyard, with the ability to unfold on the opponent's turn.
Which meant this monster surely had other effects, though An'er couldn't confirm them yet.
Taking a deep breath, she pressed on:
"I activate [Lyrilusc - Recital Starling]'s effect!"
"Detach 1 material; add 1 Level 1 Winged Beast monster from my Deck to my hand!"
"I add [Lyrilusc - Sapphire Swallow]!"
Sapphire Swallow could Special Summon itself along with another [Lyrilusc] from the hand. With this, her materials for another Xyz Summon were ready.
Watching this, Isla began to ponder. An'er's moves seemed the same as last turn, but there were subtle differences. This time, her focus wasn't on Assembled Nightingale as the main force, but on another monster… like the [Lyrilusc - Recital Starling] she'd preserved last turn.
Still, she couldn't yet decipher An'er's plan. At least Morgan's [Exosisters Magnifica] still had another banish to use, so Isla wasn't too worried.
But An'er clearly anticipated that too. To ensure her attack succeeded, she had already prepared.
"I activate the Spell Card [Lyrilusc - Bird Strike] from my hand!"
"If you control a [Lyrilusc] monster: negate the effects of all face-up monsters your opponent currently controls until the end of this turn!"
'What?!'
The spectators erupted. Everyone knew Morgan had blocked An'er's attack last turn through monster effects. But now An'er had targeted that weakness, wiping all effects from Morgan's field.
If she repeated her direct attack combo, Morgan would have no way to stop it.
"She negated all of Morgan's monsters—what a dirty trick!"
"Exactly! Last turn's direct attack was already bad enough… now this?"
"Is she really going for five direct hits again? Is that all Forest Academy's top student has?"
"Doesn't matter… winners write history. Let's see how Morgan responds."
Morgan, however, stayed calm. Even if her monsters' effects were negated, she still had her Set cards. In addition to [Exosister Vadis], she also had [Exosister Returnia]. As long as she had an Exosister on the field, she could still banish An'er's monsters.
Seeing Morgan quiet, An'er assumed her tactic had worked and grinned in secret.
Then she raised her voice:
"I overlay [Lyrilusc - Beryl Canary] and [Lyrilusc - Cobalt Sparrow] to construct the Overlay Network!"
"Xyz Summon! [Lyrilusc - Recital Starling]!"
...
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