After both drew five cards, Hazel—now possessed by the ancient Shadow Duelist—pointed ominously at Morgan.
"Little girl, I won't bully you. I'll even give you first turn!"
'Give it to me?'
Morgan chuckled. A deck built to counterattack second, yet dressed up in grand words about generosity? Fine… if the opponent was so eager to hand her the initiative, she'd gladly take it.
"As expected of a veteran Shadow Duelist. Then I won't hold back."
"My turn, draw!"
She drew swiftly. Dragonmaids weren't bound to first or second turn, and excelled at resource cycling and field control. Once a powerhouse among meta decks, now Morgan would use them to reap a Shadow Duelist.
Beside her, An'er watched in awe. The ancient power radiating from Hazel's body left her trembling—she didn't even have the courage to stand. Yet Morgan showed no fear. She stepped forward, meeting the threat head-on. Though the Shadow Duelist's target was Morgan, it was that courage that made An'er feel her own inferiority. She still had far to go.
The old man's face, however, twisted with worry. This ancient Duelist might have once fought the very first Duel King. However strong Morgan was, she was still a student. To pit her against such an opponent was reckless. Yet there was no one else here who could face her.
"When will the Duelist Alliance reinforcements arrive?" he asked grimly.
"Any moment now!" The principal wiped at sweat. His phone calls couldn't connect—black mist jammed all signals. They were trapped.
"Let's hope Morgan can hold until help comes," the old man muttered.
Jade and Isla huddled behind Morgan; even An'er buckled under the pressure. How could they stand against it? Jade stared at Hazel, horrified. Shadow Duelists had disappeared a year ago—why were they here again?
"Why is there a Shadow Duelist in the Academy? Can Morgan win?"
"I don't know… we can only pray she does. We're far too weak to help." Isla forced a bitter smile. She finally pieced it together: Forest Academy had discovered hidden Shadow Duelists, An'er had been sent to deal with them, and their exchange Duel was a cover to investigate Island Academy. No wonder An'er had reacted as she did after losing.
But the sudden appearance of this ancient Shadow Duelist shattered all plans. Now, everything depended on Morgan holding out.
The students, shrouded in black mist, realized the truth as well. Even if they'd never seen one before, they had heard the signs. Their faces paled… they were hostages.
"Why is there a Shadow Duelist in the Academy?! I'm filing a complaint!"
"Complain if you survive! Right now, our lives depend on Morgan!"
"Phones are dead… no signal, no Alliance contact!"
"This is an ancient Shadow Duelist. Can Morgan even win?"
Panic spread.
Only Hannah exhaled in relief. At last, Zelo had come through—reinforcements had arrived. If she had been left alone until the Alliance came, she would never escape. She hadn't expected the legendary vampire Duelist, Myura, to descend, but here she was.
Morgan was doomed, Hannah thought. Once Morgan was turned, she'd take her away immediately. An'er no longer mattered.
Morgan's turn began. She didn't know what Hazel's deck was, but if it used [Uni-Zombie], it had to be one of a few Zombie builds. Not hard to guess.
"I Normal Summon [Parlor Dragonmaid] in Attack Position!"
A maid with a dragon's tail appeared, carrying a teapot and cloth, her green tail swaying cutely.
[Parlor Dragonmaid] Level 3│WIND│Dragon│500 ATK / 1700 DEF
Gasps rose from the stands. Sharp-eyed spectators had noticed Morgan swap decks before the Duel—she really had changed decks again. Morgan was like a box of chocolates; until the Duel began, no one knew which deck she would bring.
The adorable maid caught many eyes, sparking curiosity about the Dragonmaid deck's power.
Hannah's heart sank again. Morgan's versatility was dangerous… no intel could cover it. She could always pull out an unfamiliar deck and crush you.
An'er realized now… when Morgan had fought her, she hadn't even used full strength. Maybe, just maybe, she really could stand against this ancient Duelist.
"I activate [Parlor Dragonmaid]'s effect!"
"When this card is Normal or Special Summoned: send 1 'Dragonmaid' card from your Deck to the GY, except itself."
Morgan selected a card from her Deck and sent it to the Graveyard.
Dragonmaids were a Fusion archetype, their ace being their exclusive Fusion Spell. Their ideal first-turn board was the Fusion boss—able to interrupt, transform, and recycle endlessly.
"I send [Dragonmaid Changeover] to the GY!"
The archetype's signature Fusion card. With a Dragonmaid on the field, it could return that monster to hand and recover itself from the Graveyard.
Isla watched tensely. The opponent was too strong—Morgan had to play carefully. But Isla trusted she wouldn't slip now.
"Activate [Dragonmaid Changeover]'s GY effect! Target 1 Dragonmaid I control; return it to hand; add this card to hand!"
Parlor returned to hand, and the Fusion Spell was recovered.
An'er nodded thoughtfully. Classic—send, then recycle. Still, she didn't yet know the Spell's effect.
Myura's eyes narrowed. Before descending, the Shadow Duelist's leader had warned her about Morgan. She hadn't cared—how could a little girl matter to one who had fought the Duel King himself? Today's Shadow Duelists were far weaker than in her time. She was disappointed, but now would prove her strength.
"I activate [Dragonmaid Changeover] from my hand!"
"I fuse [Parlor Dragonmaid] and [Laundry Dragonmaid] from my hand!"
"Fusion Summon! [Dragonmaid Sheou]!"
A vortex of fusion swallowed the maids. The whirlpool spun like a grinding wheel, and from it emerged a dragon-maiden with black wings, her tail whipping up gusts as she landed elegantly.
[Dragonmaid Sheou] Level 10│LIGHT│Dragon│3500 ATK / 2000 DEF
The Dragonmaid boss—deck core and chain terminus. The strategy: keep fusing Sheou, interrupt opponents, then transform into Dragonmaid Housekeeper, recycling endlessly.
Still, Morgan played conservatively—no Hieratic Seal this time.
"I Set 2 cards. Turn end."
Seeing Morgan end on just one Fusion monster, Hazel sneered. Vampires would not fall to a single Fusion. Soon, she would control it herself.
A cruel smile spread across Hazel's face.
"My turn, draw!"
...
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