"If you win without any battle at all, doesn't it feel a bit cheap, Lishia?"
Lishia stared wide-eyed, retorting in disbelief, "Then who was it last turn who almost bounced me to death with a Trap, huh!?"
If not for the Quick-Play Spell Shrink she was holding, she would have been completely finished off by reflected effect damage.
But since Awakening of the Possessed - Greater Inari Fire's effect had been negated, Lishia's path to victory by effect damage was blocked for now.
"So it has to be a straight fight after all."
If it was going to be a straight fight, now was the best time. The opponent had no back-row Sets (no traps) on the field.
Given Princess Nova's Deck traits, Lishia had to consider that this might be her last chance.
She had to break through this turn.
Even so, Lishia didn't ignore the silly-grinning Lan-Maid on the other side—during the Battle Phase she could elegantly transform into Dragonmaid Nudyarl.
"Continuous Spell, Awakening of the Possessed—while it's on my field, my monsters gain ATK equal to 300 × the number of different Attributes I control!"
[Awakening of the Possessed - Greater Inari Fire, ATK: 2000 → 2300]
Drawing strength from the FIRE Attribute, Hiita and the blazing awakened fox spirit surged even more.
"And this is the final key Attribute. I Normal Summon in Attack Position—Wynn the Wind Charmer!"
[Wynn the Wind Charmer] Level 3│WIND│Spellcaster│500 ATK 1500 DEF
The little green twin-tailed loli, a WIND Charmer with a Flip effect, was Normal Summoned in Attack—not for her bullheaded effect, but for the WIND Attribute.
"With two Attributes on the field, FIRE + WIND, Awakening of the Possessed boosts my monsters: 2 × 300 = 600!"
[Awakening of the Possessed - Greater Inari Fire, ATK: 2300 → 2600]
[Wynn the Wind Charmer, ATK: 500 → 1100]
With dual-Attribute support pushing ATK higher, Lishia no longer cared about sustain or fallback.
With Nova lacking Traps, this was her last and best chance to fight.
"Begin the battle, Charmers!"
As she declared Battle Phase with two Attributes on board, what awaited her was, of course, Lan-Maid's prepared transformation.
Miles counter-declared: "At the start of the Battle Phase, Laundry Dragonmaid—effect, activate! This card returns to the hand, and I Special Summon from the GY the Level 7 Dragonmaid Nudyarl! Henshin, Lan-Maid!"
"Ossu, Goshujin-sama!"
With a gorgeous flourish, the Dragonmaid form bloomed. Bathed in azure light, Big Lan-Maid completed her transformation and faced down the flame-wreathed Hiita once more.
[Dragonmaid Nudyarl, ATK: 2600]
[Awakening of the Possessed - Greater Inari Fire, ATK: 2600]
This time, after the Awakening boost, their Attack even matched exactly.
"Full power barrage! Awakening of the Possessed - Greater Inari Fire—attack target, Dragonmaid Nudyarl!"
Even if it meant mutual destruction at equal ATK, this blow had to be struck.
The yokai fox roared, flames scorching the sky. After downing Nudyarl, the road to victory lay ahead.
"Attack— 'Awakening: Roar of the Greater Inari Fire!'"
The flaming fox spirit hurled full-force from Hiita's hands howled toward the dragon in the sky.
"Counterattack—Azure Dragon Sundown!"
Flame and wave—crimson and blue—collided in the ultimate clash, detonating across the Practical Test arena.
The exchange left the surrounding students utterly stunned, shattering the first-years' worldviews.
Last year after midterms, when Miles and Kevin dueled, even the mere Summon of Red-Eyes Black Dragon—its comeback—had amazed most first-years.
Nevertheless, now, in the very first Practical Test Duel of the new first-year term, the bout had reached such heights—an even contest—far more dramatic than Red-Eyes's former one-hit kill.
The cigarette at her lips had long since burned out, though Miss Erin's gaze never left the clashing beams.
Scoring this Practical Test accurately was no simple matter… she couldn't afford to miss a single step.
Flames and waves annihilated each other. Awakening of the Possessed - Greater Inari Fire and Dragonmaid Nudyarl both fell on the field.
This equal-ATK trade was exactly the result Lishia wanted.
"My breakthrough… complete!"
Now, Miles had no monsters on the field and no Set back row. Lishia still had Wynn the Wind Charmer in Attack Position, and she hadn't attacked yet.
Though with the FIRE monster gone, Wynn's ATK dropped to 800, that was enough for the Practical Test.
Because Miles's Life Points were down to 150.
"Let this breeze bring the final victory—direct attack, Wynn the Wind Charmer!"
Gripping her wand with slender hands, the green-haired loli chanted wind incantations as emerald blades gathered ahead.
"—Wind Spirit Blade—Assault!"
The slicing wind blade tore the air, once more sweeping in as lethal damage toward Miles.
Nova, panicking, said, "This time I can say 'this is bad,' right? Uwwwa… I don't want to streak, Miles."
"If you don't want to streak, don't make that kind of bet again. This is the last card!"
Nova's brow furrowed as she looked around, "Last card—where is it, where?"
"In the GY!"
That Trap milled by Lan-Maid would become the reversal of the Duel.
It had been too costly—Pot of Greed, Graceful Charity, Painful Choice, Magic Cylinder, Mirror Force—five cards' worth, all for this one mill.
"No more extravagance like that, Lan-Maid! — From the GY, Trap Card, activate: Dragonmaid Tidying!"
[Banish this card from your GY; Special Summon 1 "Dragonmaid" monster from your hand or GY in Defense Position, but return it to the hand during the End Phase.]
"I banish Dragonmaid Tidying from my GY and revive Dragonmaid Nudyarl from my GY in Defense Position!"
[Dragonmaid Nudyarl, DEF: 1600]
Revived by the hidden GY Trap, Big Lan-Maid reappeared in all her splendor. The burst of azure light shattered the slicing wind in an instant.
"You had a Trap hidden in the GY too? That's so dirty!"
Dirty? Those were bought with rare cards.
Driven to despair, Lishia immediately called off the attack.
"With the monster count changed, I'll retract Wynn the Wind Charmer's attack!"
Even forcing a halt, a crease of worry formed between Lishia's brows.
Wynn couldn't possibly beat Nudyarl in battle. With both sides nearly out of resources, Lan-Maid clearly outmuscled the green-haired loli on her side.
"I can only use this card. I Set one card. Turn end."
Her last Set was Spiritual Wind Art - Miyabi, planning one final gamble with the WIND Attribute of Wynn.
Suddenly, Miles shouted, making Lishia jolt in place:
"At the End Phase, the Dragonmaid Nudyarl Special Summoned by a Trap returns to my hand!"
At present, the two cards left in Miles's hand were Lan-Maid and Big Lan-Maid.
He hadn't expected to really play the entire Duel with just Lan-Maid—while the big and small Reds sat on the bottom of the Deck, mirroring his own fate.
"My turn. Draw!"
Sure enough, the draw wasn't Kitch-Maid.
At that moment, Lan-Maid's proud voice rang in Miles's ear.
"Goshujin-sama, with Lan-Maid alone, it's enough! Let's show them our strongest power!"
"Yeah—final turn. Let them see the Dragonmaids' secret art."
Without Summoning Lan-Maid, Miles already foresaw that this card would bring a 100% win.
"—Spell Card, activate: Dragonmaid Changeover!"
[Fusion Summon 1 Dragon Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck, using monsters from your hand or field as Fusion Materials.]
A Dragon-only Fusion Spell—and the two cards in Miles's hand, Lan-Maid and Big Lan-Maid, were the materials.
"I fuse Laundry Dragonmaid with Dragonmaid Nudyarl!"
The two Fusion materials danced from Princess Nova's delicate fingertips—human-form Laundry Dragonmaid and dragon-form Nudyarl converged into the radiant Fusion above.
"A Dragonmaid Fusion, is it?"
Prepared to make her last stand with Spiritual Wind Art - Miyabi, Lishia hadn't expected Miles's last strike to be even more gorgeous.
"Unfurl the twin wings of light and guide us to victory—the mightiest Dragonmaid! — Fusion Summon: Dragonmaid Sheou!"
[Dragonmaid Sheou] Level 10│LIGHT│Dragon/Fusion/Effect│3500 ATK 2000 DEF
["Dragonmaid" monster + Level 5 or higher Dragon monster]
The Fusion Summon performed with two Dragonmaids—also the same miracle Fusion that had brought victory in the Shadow Game—burst forth from a blaze of Dragon Fusion light.
"A Fusion with 3500 Attack…"
Miss Erin was already numb. The very first Practical Test Duel of the new freshman term had put unprecedented pressure on her.
Right now, she was extremely grateful Professor Field had volunteered to take over as first-year homeroom.
"So this is your last trump card, Nova-chan?"
"Of course, Lishia—this is an attack infused with the souls of the Dragonmaids."
Declaring Battle Phase, Sheou's magnificent form shone with a brilliance that drew every gaze.
"Let light deliver victory—attack target: Wynn the Wind Charmer! — 'Judgment of Radiance!!'"
More elegant than any monster, more beautiful than any monster—the miracle-bringing dragon locked her finishing energy onto the green-haired loli.
"If that's your last trump card, then it's my turn! — Trap Card, Spiritual Wind Art - Miyabi!"
[Tribute 1 WIND monster; choose 1 card your opponent controls; return that card to the bottom of the Deck.]
"With your body, stir the gale, Wynn!"
By Tributing the WIND monster Wynn, Spiritual Wind Art - Miyabi could blow the fused Sheou back into the Deck.
If it resolved, both fields would be empty; Lishia would only need to draw a monster next turn to win.
The wind spirit became a sweeping emerald storm, Lishia's last, decisive will layered into the spell—countless twisters howled louder than ever.
"With Spiritual Wind Art - Miyabi, return Dragonmaid Sheou to the bottom of the Deck!"
"Let radiance oppose the gale, Sheou." Miles declared with confidence: "Witness true all-round negation!"
Responding to the command, Sheou's splendid dragon form wove through the storm, as if the tornadoes didn't exist.
Faster than the howling wind, swifter than the sweeping tempest—the strongest Dragonmaid wasn't suppressed by Miyabi at all, but suppressed it instead.
[When your opponent activates a Spell/Trap Card, or monster effect (Quick Effect): You can negate the activation, and if you do, destroy that card, then return this card to the Extra Deck, and if you do, Special Summon 1 'House Dragonmaid' from your Extra Deck.]
A perfect effect that suppresses all types—Spell, Trap, and Monster—born by the mightiest Dragonmaid.
[Spiritual Wind Art - Miyabi]—activation negated and destroyed
Miss Erin muttered blankly, "An omni-negate… for first-years… I have no words…"
Nova said, confused, "Special Summon House Dragonmaid? Miles, do I even have that in my Extra Deck?"
"Of course! Did you forget, Nova? Dragonmaids are always Summoned in pairs!"
Because of the human/dragon transformations, every Dragonmaid Summon Nova made was in pairs.
That's also why it was hard for Nova to perform Dragonmaid Summons in ordinary Summoning Class.
So, since the dragon-form Dragonmaid Sheou had been Summoned, the maid-form counterpart had already been engraved in Nova's Spirit Eyes—she had simply never called for her.
"Now just speak the maid's name—the highest-ranking maid! — Special Summon: House Dragonmaid!"
[House Dragonmaid] Level 9│LIGHT│Dragon/Fusion/Effect│3000 ATK 2000 DEF
After suppressing the gale, Sheou shifted from dragon form to human. The noble, dignified head maid stepped gracefully onto the field.
A 3000-ATK Dragon maid—truly a card nerd's ultimate weakness.
As the winds faded, the instant of elegance ushered in by the head maid also signaled the true end of the Duel.
"I… can't go on."
With the head maid Special Summoned during the Battle Phase, Lishia—who had thrown out Miyabi to no avail—recognized there was no turning the tide.
"You fought wonderfully, Lishia. Better than I imagined, honestly."
If Fusion Academy's first-years had half of Lishia's Dueling strength, the Academy would take the top seat among the Big Three with ease.
"Regardless, Duels must end with a victor. This is the last strike—House Dragonmaid— Radiant Embrace!!"
Brilliant light spread from the maid's raised fingertips, cloaking the girl Lishia and evaporating the rest of her Life Points.
[Lishia, LP: 475 → 0]
"Kyaaaaaa!"
Blasted by Blue-Eyes-class 3000 Attack, Lishia's thick glasses flew off and clattered to the floor, revealing the exquisite golden eyes hidden behind the lenses.
"S-so cute!" the crowd cried out in unison.
A dowdy glasses girl turning into a beauty the instant the frames come off… Miles had seen that plot plenty.
Anyhow, under the holy glow of the Dragonmaid, for just an instant, it seemed as if Lishia's flaxen hair had turned to gold.
...
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