The duel of Miles versus Miles.
One side fought using Aisha's body, while the other was the experimental subject—the white-haired shota version.
Both were similar to the real Miles, yet each fell short in their own way.
"How could I possibly go easy on a counterfeit?"
Perhaps Aisha might be bewitched by his appearance, but in this duel, Miles had absolutely no intention of holding back.
This concerned the most important thing of all.
His body? No... his personality.
Answering Miles's fighting spirit, the Spirit Eyes in Aisha's arm lit up first, granting him the opening turn.
Across from him, little Miles remained expressionless, a perfect poker face that gave no clue as to what he was thinking.
Aisha: "(?oωo?) If Mr. Miles ever dueled while looking into a mirror, he'd probably realize that this is how he looks most of the time."
Alright… fair enough. Figures it'd be me.
Since there was no way to read any tells from his movements or expressions, the only option was to proceed based on prior assumptions.
The Machine monsters Luca had mentioned, and the Meklord Emperor rumors Vice Principal Orcus had brought up.
Assume the opponent was running a Synchro-killer deck.
"Avoid Synchro and counter with Xyz! I activate the Spell Card [Enchanting Fitting Room]!"
[Pay 800 Life Points. Reveal the top four cards of your Deck, Special Summon any Level 3 or lower Normal Monsters among them, then shuffle the remaining cards back into the Deck.]
[Miles, LP: 4000 → 3200]
"Let's go big on him! Explode onto the field! My bond with my deck, reveal the cards!"
[Mokey Mokey]
[White Duston]
[Volcanic Rat]
[Skull Servant]
"Ya☆Da☆Ze!"
An extremely rare four-for-four flip from Miles; all four revealed cards were Level 1 monsters, rivaling the absolute peak of the bond Aisha displayed when using a Normal Monster deck.
Ren said, "You can tell, Miles's fighting spirit is really fired up right now."
Krista said enviously, "That's nice. I want to duel little Miles too."
Four Level 1 monsters—four levels total. Stacked in succession, brilliant Xyz light flared across Miles's field.
"I overlay four Level 1 monsters separately—Rank 1 Xyz Summon [Sylvan Princessprite] and [Slacker Magician]!"
Two beautiful maiden monsters emerged slowly from the Xyz light, holding hands, ready to cling even closer.
"Next, I activate the effect of the Xyz Monster [Sylvan Princessprite]. I detach one Xyz Material and reveal the top card of my Deck. If it's a Spell or Trap, I add it to my hand; if it's a Monster, it's sent to the Graveyard."
On the fifth reveal of his first turn, Miles once again successfully flipped a red Trap Card.
"I add the revealed Trap Card [Numbers Protection] to my hand. And now—for further Xyz!"
A dense, resplendent Xyz network erupted within the space of the abandoned factory.
An Xyz Summon that connected the future, stacking Xyz Monster atop Xyz Monster.
"Number Zero, be released! Charge toward an endless future that spans all directions—transcend time and descend! [Number F0: Utopic Future]!"
[Number F0: Utopic Future] Rank 0│LIGHT│Warrior│0 ATK
[Xyz Monster ×2]
An Xyz Monster without even a Rank—Number F0: Utopic Future descended onto the field in the very first turn.
Although its Attack and Defense were both 0, Utopic Future's effect meant it could not be destroyed by battle, any battle damage it took became 0, and when it would be destroyed by an effect, an Xyz Material could be detached instead.
Facing the experimental subject Miles—whose unknown deck was very likely a Synchro-killer Meklord Emperor deck—placing an indestructible Xyz Monster like Utopic Future on the field was undoubtedly Miles's best choice at the moment.
"I Set one card and end my turn."
As Miles declared the end of his turn—having completed Utopic Future with a single card—the reminder from bratty loli Viel arrived belatedly.
"Having fighting spirit is a good thing, but I still have to remind you of something, Miles. When dueling, try to go a little easy."
"What, even you got bewitched, Boss Viel?"
Don't be fooled by Viel's loli appearance. Judging from her demeanor alone, combined with her frightening depth of knowledge and craftsmanship, Miles suspected her actual age was probably a number even she herself didn't want to mention.
Miles didn't believe that mere looks—especially those of an experimental subject—would be enough to attract a 'woman of advanced years' like Viel.
"No. While loving one's own work is a craftsman's professional ethic, the real reason is far more practical."
Viel rubbed her cheek in distress. "The Magic Workshop was destroyed, so all the materials for body transmutation were lost. If you damage this experimental subject too, things will get very troublesome."
"Wait… materials are lacking? I thought you made him shota-sized specifically to save on materials."
Ironically, the experimental subject created to save materials had become the only remaining chance for Miles to survive.
Viel added, "Even with a young body, it'll continue to grow over time. That's just how it works. Anyway, if you break it, you're only breaking your own body. How hard you hit is up to you~"
Aisha: "If Mr. Miles were like this, I could totally accept it! Actually—slurp!"
What was going on? Why did Miles suddenly have the terrifying illusion that he was about to be devoured whole by a block of tofu?
The turn shifted, and Experimental Subject Miles drew a card.
"Your cards are interesting. But mine aren't bad either. My turn—draw!"
Aisha: "So, little Miles, what kind of deck are you using? I'm really curious! Waku waku!"
After glancing over his opening hand, little Miles narrowed his eyes a bit, thought for a moment, then flicked a card forward.
"Even if it's only my second time using it, this should be right!—I activate the Spell Card [Ursarctic Departure]!"
"Ursarctic?" That was totally different from the Meklord Emperor or Machine monsters Miles had expected.
[Discard one card; add two "Ursarctic" monsters from your Deck to your hand.]
"I discard one card from my hand and add [Ursarctic Mikpolar] and [Ursarctic Megapolar] from my Deck to my hand!"
A two-for-two search. Two monsters utterly beyond Miles's expectations were added to Experimental Subject Miles's hand.
"Then I activate the effect of [Ursarctic Mikpolar] from my hand!"
[During either player's Main Phase: You can Tribute one Level 7 or higher monster from your hand, except this card; Special Summon this card from your hand.]
"I Tribute the Level 8 [Ursarctic Megapolar] from my hand, and Special Summon Ursarctic Mikpolar!"
A brilliant light interwoven with machinery and frost erupted on little Miles's field, as a brand-new monster no one had ever seen before appeared.
[Ursarctic Mikpolar] Level 7│WATER│Beast│700 ATK
Riding a mechanical disc, the snow-white bear's body was partially mechanized. Although it possessed a Level 7 status, its offensive and defensive stats were far below what one would expect from a typical Level 7 monster.
"That's not a Machine," Miles glanced at Luca, who was standing off to the side watching the duel.
At this point, Luca's expression had already turned into the same universal blame-dodging face as bratty loli Viel's.
If you can even misidentify a monster's Type, no wonder you never win your duels.
Although this Ursarctic monster was filled with various mechanized elements, there was no doubt—it was a Beast monster.
A white-haired shota experimental subject summoning a massive mechanical white bear; somehow, the image felt perfectly natural. It even seemed fitting.
"I continue by activating Mikpolar's effect!"
[This effect can only be activated if this card is Special Summoned. Add one "Ursarctic" monster from your Deck to your hand, except "Ursarctic Mikpolar".]
"I add [Ursarctic Megapolar] from my Deck to my hand. Next, I activate the Equip Spell Card [Premature Burial]!"
[Pay 800 Life Points, then target one monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon that target in face-up Attack Position, and equip this card to it. When this card is destroyed, destroy the equipped monster.]
[Prototype Miles, LP: 4000 → 3200]
A similar dueling style resulted in similar Life Point totals. On Prototype Miles's side as well, 800 Life Points were paid at the opening to begin the combo.
"I Special Summon the [Ursarctic Megapolar] I Tributed earlier from my Graveyard, and equip it with [Premature Burial]!"
[Ursarctic Megapolar] Level 8│WATER│Beast-Warrior│2500 ATK
The second Ursarctic monster to take the field—compared to Mikpolar, the massive bear wielding a frozen warhammer had a far higher degree of mechanization, its appearance resembling a pure white combat mech.
Even so, this monster's Type was still Beast-Warrior, not Machine.
Luca: "(?·?)"
"When [Ursarctic Megapolar] is Special Summoned, I can activate its additional effect!"
[If you control another "Ursarctic" monster: When this card is Special Summoned, target one Spell/Trap your opponent controls; destroy it.]
"Destroy your Set card!—Glacial Heavy Hammer!"
Miles's only face-down Trap Card, [Numbers Protection], was shattered to pieces under the crushing blow of exploding ice shards.
"Tch. So that's how this deck works!"
However, compared to the mechanized armor's appearance and the monsters' power upon being Special Summoned, Miles noticed something far stranger.
[Ursarctic Megapolar] was a Tuner monster and an astounding Level 8 Tuner at that.
Meanwhile, the other monster standing on Prototype Miles's field, [Ursarctic Mikpolar], was Level 7.
That added up to fifteen Levels… how could a Synchro Summon even be possible?
Yet, defying conventional logic, just as everyone reached the same confusion as Miles, the light of Synchro Summoning spread across Prototype Miles's field.
"I send Ursarctic Megapolar and Mikpolar to the Graveyard to perform an extreme-cold Synchro Summon!"
"A Synchro Summon? That's impossible!"
Krista of Synchron Academy was the most shocked of all.
Even at Synchron Academy, which specialized in Synchro Summoning, there was no historical record of such a Synchro—combining a Level 7 non-Tuner with a Level 8 Tuner.
However, as the Level stars rose from the two monsters and collided, instead of adding together as in a normal Synchro Summon, they overlapped—and subtracted.
In the freezing Synchro light, the seven stars collided and froze over, vanishing entirely.
The final result: 8 − 7 = 1.
"Bring the frozen vista of the Big Dipper into this domain—Synchro Summon, Level 1! [Ursarctic Polari]!"
[Ursarctic Polari] Level 1│WATER│Beast│700 ATK
A Level 1 Synchro Monster, a plush-like bear covered in pure white ice, leapt forth from the Synchro light.
Aisha: "(?＞v＜) Kawaii!"
Miles: "So there really are Level 1 Synchro Monsters…"
As everyone knew, Synchro Summoning normally added Levels together. Unless later Level-adjustment effects were involved, a Level 1 Synchro was essentially unheard of.
Little Miles grinned smugly. "That's the summoning method unique to Ursarctics."
[This card cannot be Synchro Summoned. It can only be Special Summoned by sending 1 Tuner and 1 non-Tuner monster you control to the Graveyard whose Level difference is exactly 1.]
Rather than adding Levels, this special summoning method subtracted them to call forth a Synchro Monster.
Ren pointed out, "But after the Synchro Summon, isn't it weaker instead?"
Summoned by subtracting the Levels of Level 7 Mikpolar and Level 8 Tuner Megapolar, [Ursarctic Polari] might look cute, but it lacked the raw combat stats of a heavy mech.
However, the moment Ren voiced her doubt, the entire abandoned factory began to shake violently.
Amid the violent tremors, little Miles raised his arm and declared, "Appear, Big Dipper! I activate the effect of [Ursarctic Polari]!"
[This effect can only be activated if this card is Special Summoned. Activate 1 "Ursarctic Big Dipper" directly from your Deck.]
The card that popped out of the Spirit Eyes in little Miles's arm was a Field Spell activated directly from the Deck.
[Ursarctic Big Dipper]
The environment of the abandoned factory underwent a sudden transformation. After the overwhelmingly grand Field Spell activated, the ground beneath everyone's feet was no longer a rusted steel floor.
Miles scanned his surroundings. "This is… a battleship!"
A colossal steel warship straight out of science fiction, vast enough to roam the cosmos.
Viel's expression grew even more complex.
"Something like this has been sleeping beneath Synchron Academy's back mountain all this time… That duel ten years ago that leveled the mountain… did it really leave behind such a magnificent legacy?"
And now, the power of that battle's legacy, a deck that had gone unnoticed for ten full years, had been claimed by an experimental subject born just two days ago.
"Just by inputting your personality, he managed to do all this. Miles, you might actually be a genius rare card hunter!"
"Don't lump me together with those Shadow Duelists," Miles shot back.
With the Field Spell activated by a Level 1 Synchro, little Miles—standing atop the Big Dipper warship—once again declared an effect.
"The other effect of [Ursarctic Polari] is this!"
[You can Tribute one Level 7 or higher monster you control; add one "Ursarctic" monster from your Graveyard to your hand, or Special Summon it.]
"But you don't have a Level 7 or higher monster on your field."
"I do," little Miles stomped his foot, gesturing at the massive Big Dipper warship beneath him. "By linking with the Field Spell [Ursarctic Big Dipper]!"
[Once per turn, if an "Ursarctic" monster you control would Tribute a monster to activate its effect, you can banish one Level 7 or higher "Ursarctic" monster from your Graveyard instead.]
"I banish the Level 7 [Ursarctic Mikpolar] from my Graveyard instead, and Special Summon Megapolar back to my field!"
The Level 8 Tuner—the heavy Megapolar mech—returned to the field. This time, atop the steel warship, an even more dazzling polar Synchro storm erupted.
"I send the Synchro Monster [Ursarctic Polari] and the Level 8 Tuner [Ursarctic Megapolar] to the Graveyard—final battle mode! Big Dipper transformation!"
With one Synchro star colliding and subtracting from eight stars, the polar Synchro storm froze the overlapping single star.
8★ − 1★ = 7★
"Let the Big Dipper shine across the cosmos and unleash an arctic storm to trace the seven-star trajectory!—Final Battle Mode [Ursarctic Septentrions]!"
[Ursarctic Septentrion] Level 7│WATER│Beast-Warrior│3000 ATK
[This card cannot be Synchro Summoned. It can only be Special Summoned by sending 1 Level 8 or higher Tuner and 1 non-Tuner Synchro Monster you control to the Graveyard whose Level difference is exactly 7.]
The combat mech resembling Megapolar completed its final transformation amid the freezing Synchro storm of the cosmos.
Compared to the bear-like form, the final battle mode was far closer to a humanoid mech. And even Miles, as its opponent, had to admit it looked undeniably cool.
"However, even with 3000 Attack—on par with Blue-Eyes White Dragon—neither battle nor effects can destroy [Number F0: Utopic Future]!"
"Is that really true?" Little Miles's lips curved upward slightly. "I don't know why this deck was left here, but the duel ten years ago must have been massive—large enough to affect the entire continent."
"Affect the entire continent?"
"I get it now—the original design philosophy behind this mech! [Ursarctic Septentrion] is a Synchro Summoned ultimate weapon against Xyz!"
Swinging the luminous blade-axe in its hand, the icy intent froze the space around the warship itself.
"The effect of [Ursarctic Septentrion]!"
[While this card is in the Monster Zone, negate the effects of face-up monsters that do not have a Level and were Special Summoned from the Extra Deck.]
An effect seal targeting monsters without Levels.
As everyone knew, Xyz Monsters had Ranks, not Levels.
The battle legacy sleeping beneath Synchron Academy's back mountain, within this abandoned factory, had revealed an ultimate anti-Xyz weapon born from Synchro.
...
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