"Take this!"
Vampire's Curse shouted.
"I'll use Vampire's Curse—myself—to attack directly!
Under the Evil Eye of Coercion, your monsters can't defend. I win!"
His cursed avatar vaulted the field, its pale face twisted in the same anger as the original, claws outstretched straight for Kira.
Amazoness Swords Woman knelt, wanting to rise—but under that oppressive gaze she couldn't; she could only brace on her sword and watch the vampire soar.
Unhurried, Kira flipped a set card. "I activate the Trap: Intruder Alarm - Yellow Alert!
When your opponent declares an attack, Special Summon a monster from your hand, and force the attacking monster to attack the summoned monster." (original effect)
Vampire's Curse started. "Forced attack…"
His instincts screamed trouble. With the Kingdom boost, Vampire's Curse sat at 2500 ATK; if forced to hit Amazoness Swords Woman, he'd eat 1000 back.
But wait—no. The forced attack was on the newly summoned monster, not that cursed swordswoman.
As long as it wasn't her, it should be fine. Whatever he summons—
"I Special Summon: Reflect Bounder," Kira said. "If this Attack Position card is chosen as the attack target, inflict damage to your opponent equal to the attacking monster's ATK."
"…"
Bastard!
Do you have a single normal monster in that Deck?
The noble blood felt a rush of hot blood—nearly spat out last night's meal.
This was worse than hitting Amazoness Swords Woman. At least she only reflected battle damage. This thing was a walking Magic Cylinder. Amazoness Swords Woman would have bounced 1000—tolerable. Take this, and you were getting carried out.
In the mirror on the mage's hand, the lunging vampire's form was already reflected—about to fling it back.
In that split second, the vampire didn't think—he roared and flipped his backrow. "I activate the Trap: Destruct Potion!
Destroy one monster I control, then gain Life Points equal to its ATK!"
"A self-destruction card," Kira nodded. "I see—packed specifically to dodge opposing traps… and not just that."
"Exactly!" Vampire's Curse laughed. "As I said, I am immortal—I revive stronger every time!
With Destruct Potion, I destroy—
—myself, Vampire's Curse!"
With a boom, the on-field vampire exploded into blood mist and scattered. The mist immediately coursed into the original; he drew a deep breath, vigor flooding back.
[Vampire's Curse (player), LP 2500 → 4500]
"Because this is the attack declaration step, we haven't entered damage calculation yet, so Vampire Kingdom hasn't applied. Vampire's Curse's ATK at destruction was still 2000.
Therefore, I gain 2000 Life."
He thrust a finger.
"But! As I said, I resurrect, ever stronger.
I pay 500 Life Points—revive once more, Vampire's Curse!"
[Vampire's Curse (player), LP 4500 → 4000]
The recently departed spectral vampire surfaced like a ghost and sank its fangs into the original's neck. Fed on blood, it solidified and returned to the field brimming with vigor.
[Vampire's Curse, ATK 2000 → 2500]
"By destroying myself with a Trap I heal, boost ATK, dodge your nasty effects—and since it was a Special Summon during the Battle Phase, I even get an extra attack this turn!"
Grunts on the sidelines whooped.
"As expected of milord!"
"Only milord could use such lines so deftly!"
Vampire's Curse seemed quite pleased with his smooth sequence. He strode forward and declared: "Listen well, you insidious lackey! For His Highness's sake, I cannot lose—and I will not betray my kind!
The honor of our bloodline does not allow submission or surrender. We will fight the invaders to the end—no matter the cost, even to the last!"
They were strangers, but those words fired Jaden up. "Ohhh—now that's a duelist's spirit!"
And it was true. Kira could feel it—this spirit was on another level from the opponents they'd faced along the way.
Not about Deck strength, nor ace power—simply the strength of the duelist.
Part talent, part presence. And presence could be magnified by will and conviction—that's why duelists are, in a way, creatures of pure belief.
That the blood race could fight the Supreme King's army this long had a lot to do with their iron will to fight.
In fact, they were the natives here; the Supreme King's army were the invaders. In terms of alignment, Kira and company were headed to pick a fight with the Supreme King anyway—these vampires might well be allies.
On the road, he'd been thinking: the Supreme King's influence was everywhere; his mooks were innumerable. Sure, walking up and dueling the King himself would be the most direct route—but until they found him, taking on an army alone would be inconvenient.
If they could pull in allied forces along the way, that might help.
And if those allies came with rarer Decks… all the better.
Thinking that, Kira smiled.
As the saying goes, no fight, no friendship. After today, he was sure they'd be happy to talk.
"Still smiling?"
Seeing that easy smile only stoked the vampire's ire. That sunny face felt like mockery.
Fury flared. He stepped and barked:
"Destruct Potion is a Trap you can activate during the Battle Phase.
So the resurrected Vampire's Curse is also Special Summoned during the Battle Phase—and can still attack this turn!
This time it really is over!"