Myura glanced at the card she drew, sneering as she slipped it into her hand.
To her, today's Shadow Duelists were a disappointment… so many had gathered, yet they couldn't even handle a few children. It was an insult to the title. As a veteran, she would show them what true Shadow Duelist strength looked like.
Abruptly, before she could begin her play, Morgan cut in sharply.
"During your Standby Phase, [Dragonmaid Sheou]'s effect activates!"
"I Special Summon 1 [Dragonmaid] monster from my hand or Graveyard!"
"In Defense Position, I Special Summon [Laundry Dragonmaid]!"
A petite dragonmaid in an apron appeared, carrying laundry. Unlike the others, her tail was furry—full of unpredictability, nicknamed 'Little Blue.' Yet in Morgan's hands, even she had her role.
[Laundry Dragonmaid] Level 2│WIND│Dragon│500 ATK / 1600 DEF
Myura glared. This girl dared to build her field during her turn? Did Shadow Duelist intimidation mean nothing now?
Morgan ignored her, continuing:
"When [Laundry Dragonmaid] is Special Summoned: send the top 3 cards of my Deck to the Graveyard!"
She milled three cards, and among them was her true target: [Dragonmaid Tidying]. By banishing it, she could Special Summon a Dragonmaid from her hand or Graveyard—a crucial piece.
Once Morgan's chain ended, Myura growled:
"I Normal Summon [Vampire Retainer] in Attack Position!"
A robed woman cloaked in eerie green light appeared, crimson eyes and sharp fangs marking her as a vampire specter.
[Vampire Retainer] Level 3│DARK│Zombie│1500 ATK / 0 DEF
"I activate [Vampire Retainer]'s effect!"
"When this card is Normal Summoned: send 1 other [Vampire] card from my hand or face-up field to the Graveyard. Add 1 Level 4 or higher [Vampire] monster from my Deck to my hand, then send 1 Level 2 or lower [Vampire] monster from my Deck to the Graveyard."
A powerful searcher, fueling both Graveyard and hand. One of the few true starters of the Vampire archetype.
"I send [Vampire Familiar] to the Graveyard…"
However, Morgan was ready. This Dragonmaid build mirrored her past competitive lists, packed with staples—like 3 copies each of [Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring] and [Maxx "C"].
Her hand held the perfect answer.
"I discard [Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring] from my hand! When your effect would add a card from the Deck to hand: negate it!"
A little girl in a kimono appeared, circling Retainer before nullifying its power.
"Tch!" Myura spat. Of the three effects, only the mill went through. Frustrated, but not stopped.
"I activate the effect of [Vampire Familiar] in the Graveyard! By sending [Vampire Ghost] from my hand to the Graveyard, I Special Summon it!"
A swarm of bats gathered, forming a half-wolf, half-shadow beast, its body twisted in mist.
[Vampire Familiar] Level 2│DARK│Zombie│1200 ATK / 0 DEF
Jade shuddered. The monster itself was terrifying—its archetype even more so. Isla comforted her briefly, then studied the field. Vampires—an uncommon, eerie archetype. Few played them. Little data existed.
Regardless, one thing was known: they could steal the opponent's monsters.
Their rarity made them all the more dangerous—clearly Myura's specialty.
Hannah, too, was eager. This was her first chance to witness the legendary Shadow Duelist's tactics. Though slightly rattled by Morgan's interruption, Myura clearly had more plays ready.
"I activate [Vampire Familiar]'s other effect! When Special Summoned: pay 500 LP; add 1 [Vampire] Spell/Trap from my Deck to my hand!"
Myura quickly fetched a card and activated it.
"I activate the Continuous Spell [Vampire's Domain]!"
By paying 500 LP, she gained an additional Normal Summon for a Vampire monster. Perfect setup for Tribute Summons.
"I pay 500 LP! This turn, I can Normal Summon an additional [Vampire] monster!"
"Now, I use [Vampire Familiar] and [Vampire Retainer] to construct the Link Circuit!"
"Link Summon! [Vampire Sucker]!"
A fashionable, dark-skinned girl appeared, her lazy smile contrasting with her eerie form. White dress, black stockings, and pink wings—pierced by skeletal arms.
[Vampire Sucker] Link-2│DARK│Zombie│1600 ATK
A key piece of the archetype, its three effects linked together, its third the most dangerous: during a Tribute Summon, it could use an opponent's Zombie as material.
Even if Morgan had no Zombies, its first effect could make them into Zombies.
Morgan's hand hovered over Sheou's effect. Her one reliable interruption had to be used at the perfect moment.
Oblivious, Myura smirked.
"I activate [Vampire Sucker]'s effect! Target 1 monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it to your field in Defense Position, but it becomes Zombie!"
"I Special Summon your [Parlor Dragonmaid] from your Graveyard!"
...
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