"I activate [Lyrilusc - Recital Starling]'s effect!"
"When this card is Xyz Summoned, target 1 face-up monster on the field. That monster gains ATK/DEF equal to this card's Overlay Units × 300."
Everyone was familiar with this effect, but An'er's next move immediately stirred heated discussion.
"The monster I'll power up is [Exosisters Magnifica] on the field!"
Her choice shocked Isla and the others. An'er had targeted Morgan's monster.
Yet, Morgan wasn't surprised. If An'er wanted to run her "reflect-burn bird" tactic, she had to maximize the opponent's Attack power. Morgan's highest was only 2800—boosting it by 600 gave 3400, still not enough. Which meant she planned to combine it with direct attacks. Two Recital Starlings plus one Assembled Nightingale could wipe Morgan's Life Points.
An'er's final Recital Starling hit the field. As always, it could detach a material to add another [Lyrilusc] to her hand. With Sapphire Swallow ready to Special Summon itself alongside another Level 1 Winged Beast, she already had the materials lined up to Xyz Summon Assembled Nightingale.
And now that Morgan's monster effects were negated, An'er believed the stage was hers.
The headmaster's heart, which had thought victory certain, now raced nervously again. The old man, however, looked unimpressed. At his age, he was steady as a mountain—unlike the excitable principal.
Hannah arched a brow. Whether An'er or Morgan lost, it opened an opportunity for her. But with her boss's mission at stake, she preferred Morgan's win—that way An'er could be turned into a Shadow Duelist. Letting An'er reveal more tactics only benefited her.
After all, very few had deck-building skills like Morgan, who could pull out an unknown Deck that caught everyone off guard.
Convinced Morgan had no answers, An'er smiled.
"Activate [Lyrilusc - Recital Starling]'s effect! Detach 1 material to add [Lyrilusc - Celestine Wagtail] to my hand!"
"Then I Special Summon [Lyrilusc - Celestine Wagtail] and [Lyrilusc - Sapphire Swallow] from my hand!"
Her five Monster Zones filled. Though the field resembled last turn's, its nature had shifted.
"I overlay these two monsters to build the Overlay Network!"
"Xyz Summon! [Lyrilusc - Assembled Nightingale]!"
Nightingale returned once more. This time, An'er used its other effect.
"Activate [Lyrilusc - Assembled Nightingale]'s effect! Detach 1 material: until the end of this turn, all [Lyrilusc] monsters I control cannot be destroyed by battle or effects, and I take no battle damage."
Isla frowned. Why give Morgan's monster more Attack? Only one reason: to maximize reflected damage. With Nightingale attacking directly and protecting her team, Recital Starling's effect could bounce all that battle damage to Morgan alone.
Her eyes widened. If she was right, Morgan would take the full force. Sweat gathered at her brow. This was clever—especially with Morgan's monsters negated, the strategy had a frighteningly high chance of success.
She looked at Morgan, praying she saw the danger.
An'er, calm now, smiled at Morgan. No matter what Morgan did, defeat awaited.
Celestine Wagtail's effect added her a Spell, and An'er prepared to attack. With her two zero-ATK monsters crashing in, Morgan would take 6800 damage reflected back, leaving Nightingale to finish the kill. Victory was in her grasp.
Abruptly, then her smile froze. Morgan's Set card flipped open.
Now the grin had shifted to Morgan's face.
"I activate the Trap Card [Exosister Returnia]!"
"If all monsters I control are [Exosisters], pay 800 LP; target 1 card your opponent controls or in their GY; banish it!"
"I banish your [Lyrilusc - Assembled Nightingale]!"
'Again?!'
An'er went pale. Her Nightingale vanished once more.
She bit her lip. Even without Nightingale, her two Recital Starlings could still inflict heavy damage.
But Morgan wasn't finished.
"After this effect resolves, Xyz Summon 1 [Exosister] Xyz Monster using monsters I control as material!"
"I overlay [Exosister Asophiel] to build the Overlay Network!"
"Xyz Summon! [Exosister Gibrine]!"
A dignified lady appeared, weapon shining with divine light.
Morgan summoned her because Gibrine's effect negated one opponent's monster upon being Special Summoned. And since it was an Xyz Summon, [Exosister Carpedivem] could also trigger, negating another.
That meant An'er's reflect-burn bird combo was broken.
Morgan grinned.
"Activate [Exosister Gibrine]'s effect!"
"When Xyz Summoned using [Exosister] material: during either turn, target 1 Effect Monster your opponent controls; negate its effects until the end of this turn!"
...
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