Point of View — The Doctor
A dry impact echoed throughout the simulation room. A moment later, a blue hologram flashed above the girl's head.
[Miyako: 0 LP]
At the center of the arena, another message lit up in cold blue:
[AI: Victory]
Fifty defeats. Fifty attempts. And even now, she could barely stand upright. Sweat ran down her forehead, her chest heaved, and her hands trembled. And yet—
"I… want to try… again."
The voice came out weak, nearly a whisper — but unwavering. No hesitation.
I watched her from behind the glass. Unbelievable. She had no energy left, no advantage, not even a chance. And still, there she was. Asking for more.
She had taken the experimental compound. I never expected miracles, of course… but after so many duels, I assumed she would awaken. It hasn't happened. Not yet. Meanwhile, we continue stalling her sister with fake examinations.
Miyako is the first human test subject. The first to receive the drug. And so far? Nothing. No significant reaction. Only fatigue… persistence… and a stubbornness that borders on touching.
But is that enough?
The AI already reaches the theoretical limit of any unawakened duelist. In numbers, in calculations, it is perfect. Yet in practice… it is still far from representing a real awakened opponent. It is weak. Pathetically weak.
But Miyako doesn't care. She takes another step forward. She wobbles. Draws in a deep breath.
"…Alright," she murmurs. "Let's start another one."
And the arena resets.
Point of View — Miyako
"Duel declared," Miyako announced, her voice dragged down by exhaustion.
"Duel declared," repeated the system, dry and mechanical, as if reading a random manual someone left behind.
Above the arena, the holograms lit up:
[Miyako – 4000 LP | AI – 4000 LP]
Turn 1 — AI
On the opposite side, a dark-blue silhouette took shape. No face. No features. Just a cold, artificial presence, motionless, like it awaited the next command directly from its programming. The duel disk on its arm spun smoothly, emitting a faint, constant hum — cutting through the silence like a needle scraping glass.
"Performing Normal Summon: Goblin Attack Force," the AI announced.
With a metallic crack, the goblins emerged. Rusted helmets, battered bronze breastplates gleaming under artificial light. Their ragged purple garments, stained with filth, swung with twitchy movements. Each dragged a heavy iron club across the ground, grunting in guttural unison.
[Goblin Attack Force — Warrior/Earth — Level 4 — 2300 ATK / 0 DEF]
Miyako let out a short breath, almost a scoff.
"No matter how many times I see them… 2300 attack is still ridiculous on those idiots."
The system remained silent.
"Setting two cards face-down. Ending turn," declared the AI, voice flat and emotionless. Just another line of code executed.
Turn 2 — Miyako
[Miyako – 4000 LP | AI – 4000 LP]
With visible effort, Miyako drew a card. Her arms trembled just keeping the duel disk in place, sweat trailing down her temple.
She glanced tiredly at her hand, trying to find a play.
"I Normal Summon Rogue Doll to my field."
A cloaked figure appeared, wearing a violet mantle and hood, clutching a golden staff. Its face was hidden behind a mask marked with a vertical insignia. A smaller figure seemed to emerge from its body like a ghost.
[Rogue Doll — Normal Monster — Spellcaster/Light — Level 4 — 1600 ATK / 1000 DEF]
"I activate the spell Tribute Doll to tribute one monster on my field and summon a Level 7 monster from my hand. It can't attack this turn."
With a soft shimmer, Rogue Doll vanished, and in its place appeared Cocopudding, Princess of Happiness — lounging on an elegant throne, savoring a dessert, her presence radiating peace and harmony. Beside her, a white dove symbolized sweetness and balance.
[Cocopudding, Princess of Happiness — Normal Monster — Spellcaster/Light — Level 7 — 2400 ATK / 700 DEF]
"I can't attack, so I set two cards face-down… and end my turn."
Shaking, nearly collapsing, Miyako still stood her ground. Her determination remained unbroken.
Turn 3 — AI
[Miyako – 4000 LP | AI – 4000 LP]
"Drawing one card," the AI stated, robotic and emotionless.
"I activate Mystical Space Typhoon. Target: your first face-down card."
A violent tornado surged toward Miyako's spell.
"I activate the face-down you targeted: Waboku. My monsters and LP remain untouched," Miyako replied, forcing the words out.
The AI responded instantly:
"In response to your activation, I activate Seven Tools of the Bandit. I pay 1000 Life Points and negate your card."
[AI – 3000 LP]
Waboku fizzled, then shattered into light.
"I tribute my Goblin Attack Force to Tribute Summon Great Maju Garzett."
[Great Maju Garzett — Effect Monster — Fiend/Dark — Level 6 — 0 ATK / 0 DEF]
A twisted, flaming-eyed fiend erupted onto the field, pulsing with the power of the monster sacrificed to bring it forth.
"Its attack points become double the original attack of the tributed monster. In this case, 4600," explained the AI with the same monotone.
"I attack your Princess with Great Maju Garzett."
Miyako gritted her teeth as the impact crashed into her. She dropped to one knee — then forced herself back up.
[Miyako – 1800 LP]
"I set one card face-down and end my turn," the AI concluded, as though nothing unusual had happened.
From behind the glass, I watched.
(I expected more from the drug… but what a shame. This is clearly the final duel. She's already lost. The AI's face-downs are Scrap-Iron Scarecrow and Mirror Force. It's over.)
Turn 4 — Miyako
[Miyako – 1800 LP | AI – 3000 LP]
(Even exhausted… I still haven't lost. I can still keep going. I need to…)(I have to draw a card. This pain… is nothing compared to what Hikari endured for me. I can do this. I will continue. Not for me — for all of us… for her. I will…)
"I will build a happy future for our family!" Miyako shouted through a voice she didn't know she still had. "I will reach the skies alongside Hikari!"
The moment she reached for her deck, it glowed. A violet light enveloped everything, and for a heartbeat, the arena vanished.
Before her stood two figures. A charming, smiling girl — and a refined, composed woman. Miyako didn't know how she recognized them, but she did.
"Madame Verre… Haine…"
Little Verre nodded with a bright smile. Haine, serious and elegant, extended a contract sealed with an ancient quill. Miyako signed without hesitation. She didn't need to read it — she already knew every word of the pact.
A warm violet flame wrapped around her. Not burning, but embracing — gentle, magical, reshaping something broken within her.
The arena erupted in light.
Above, observing it all, I smiled.
"So the medicine works… A Level 8 Fusion Awakening. Rare. I'd better collect the data while she's still on the field."
When the light faded, Miyako remained — transformed. The exhaustion was gone. Her eyes shone with reborn resolve. Her posture, unshakable. No one would guess she had fought dozens of duels.
"I draw!"
She lifted a card with confidence and continued:
"I activate my face-down: Reckless Greed! I draw two cards, but I'll skip my next two Draw Phases… not that you'll survive that long."
A grin spread across her face.
"Next, I activate the spell Witchcrafter Creation. I add Witchcrafter Potterie from my deck to my hand!"
She grabbed the glowing card, then extended her arm:
"I summon Witchcrafter Potterie!"
A small blonde witch appeared, hair tied in double buns, wearing a magical cloak over casual clothes. Living clay familiars hovered playfully around her.
"By Potterie's effect, I can tribute her and discard a Spell Card to Special Summon a 'Witchcrafter' from my deck!"
She raised another card.
"I discard Witchcrafter Holiday to Special Summon… Witchcrafter Haine!"
"Come forth! Confirm the pact! Manifest yourself, master artisan of arcane craft… Witchcrafter Haine!"
Haine emerged triumphantly — clad in a black military-style uniform lined with gold, a tilted beret over silver hair. Floating needles of dark energy hummed around her with ruthless precision.
[Witchcrafter Haine — Spellcaster/Effect — Level 7 — 2400 ATK / 1000 DEF]
"I activate Haine's effect! I discard a Spell Card to destroy one face-up card you control! I choose… your Great Maju Garzett! Mystic Needle Barrage!"
The needles spun into a vortex, and with a flick of Haine's staff, they impaled Garzett in a storm of shadowed light. It shattered into fragments.
"And now I activate Witchcrafter Collaboration, targeting Haine!"
A golden aura surged around the witch, like liquid magic pulsing through her veins.
"Haine — attack!"
The AI flickered, confused.
Error: Cannot activate face-down cards.
"That's because of Collaboration. The affected monster prevents face-down activations — and can attack twice. Go, Haine."
The witch struck. The tip of her staff pierced the AI's creature.
[AI – 800 LP]
"Haine, finish it! Curse of Needles — Touch of the Shadow Seamstress!"
She leapt. Shadow threads wrapped around her staff. With a graceful strike, she impaled the AI's core. A bloom of needles exploded from inside out.
[AI – 0 LP]
At the center of the arena, a holographic blue screen appeared:
Miyako Wins.
"Congratulations," I said calmly. "Now we will proceed with your awakening protocol. After that, you can share the good news with your sister."
"…Alright. Thank you," Miyako murmured, voice trembling. "Hikari… I did it."