A desperate situation… Miles' greatest crisis of the day.
If Miles had known in advance that he would be exposed before so many eyes like this, he would have never agreed to Sylvia's cross-dressing proposal, not even if beaten to death.
Only one step away from the exit of the imperial palace, Miles and Sylvia were surrounded layer upon layer by heavily armored imperial soldiers.
And of course, there was one key figure. Even with Miles cross-dressing, she had still detected him and exposed his identity.
Sylvia's mother: the head of the Diane family, Karina Diane.
"M-Mother."
A drop of cold sweat slid down her temple as Sylvia nervously looked at her mother, who had suddenly appeared before her.
"So early in the morning, Sylvia, where are you planning to take that cute little nun behind you? Off to the church to confess?"
Thanks to her excellent skincare, even standing face-to-face with Sylvia, Karina looked more like her sister than her mother.
Such a charming, mature woman… under different circumstances, she would absolutely be the kind to make people shout, 'Ma'am, I adore you!' Yet right now, she only gave Miles an intense headache.
Whether it was capturing him and bringing him into the palace in the first place, or preventing his escape now, there was no doubt:
Miles was being deliberately targeted by this woman.
Even though he had no grudge against her.
At this point, the only option was to break through by force.
The Spirit Eyes on his arm activated. After a night of recovery, Miles had already returned to his peak condition.
Even facing a large number of imperial soldiers, he still had the strength to fight.
Her beautiful eyes glanced at Miles, who was ready to strike at any moment, and Karina smiled alluringly. "Trying to run away after just one day? Could it be that Her Majesty Quaedes' charm isn't enough?"
"This has nothing to do with Quaedes' charm. I just don't want to become a tool for your ambitions."
"A tool? Heh, you're still too young after all."
Karina waved the rose folding fan in her hand, and the Spirit Eyes on her arm lit up as well.
"To have the value of becoming a tool for those in power is itself a rare blessing. You young people wouldn't understand!"
Although she had activated the Spirit Eyes on her arm, Karina Diane had no intention of dueling Miles.
It was likely a matter of clear self-awareness. Miles held a God Card in his hand; Karina knew there was absolutely no way she could win. She might even end up utterly crushed in a duel against someone of the younger generation, ruining her reputation.
Fortunately, what she needed to do right now was not defeat Miles at all.
Within the glow of summoning light, Karina issued orders to the surrounding soldiers.
"Just hold him in place. Stall him until Her Majesty the Emperor arrives!"
"Yes!" the soldiers shouted in unison.
Using sheer numbers to restrain Miles and wait for Emperor Quaedes to arrive; once that happened, Miles would have no chance of escaping.
"You despicable vixen!" Miles glared at Karina.
"Heh." Unconcerned by Miles' insults, Karina's smile remained unchanged. "I'm really looking forward to seeing the expression on Her Majesty's face when she gets angry."
After making the sacrifice of cross-dressing, only to fail in escaping anyway, Miles felt like he had suffered a crushing loss.
And just as Karina had said, if news of his attempted escape reached Quaedes, she would surely be furious enough to ignore their agreement and directly pin him—still in his nun outfit—onto the bed.
"This is a complete disaster."
Of course, Miles couldn't blame Sylvia. He understood that she had genuinely wanted to save him; they had simply run into an unexpected situation.
Yet just as Miles was about to give up this futile resistance and try to bargain for leniency later—
"Light Plane Elemental Summon! Surge forth, Glorious Torrent!"
...
That night, Imperial Capital Palace Banquet Hall.
The annual birthday banquet of His Majesty the Emperor of the Varian Empire was held as scheduled.
Nobles and powerful Duelists from across the Empire gathered together. It could be said to be even livelier than the noble gatherings held every New Year's Eve in the royal capital of Livorden.
"Still no response?" Irena asked worriedly.
Relying on the identity of Crown Prince Homar Kaiser, she had managed to enter this high-end venue that she normally would never have been allowed into. Originally planning to properly experience the atmosphere of high society, Irena had now completely lost that initial excitement.
The reason was simple: the banquet was about to begin, yet Miles had still not appeared, nor had he sent any message.
Gently stroking the Millennium Puzzle at her chest, Aisha said, "I believe Mr. Miles will definitely be fine. I just need to do what I can."
What Aisha needed to do now was follow the original banquet schedule—duel the other Duelists present, display her strength, and earn the honor of ultimately dueling Emperor Quaedes.
"To think my naive little sister would actually abduct a man," Prince Zepha Soroya remarked, unable to hide the flicker of surprise in his expression after learning from Homar that Miles might have been taken away by the Emperor.
"How should I put it… has she grown up? She's finally no longer the cute little sister who used to cry and insist on marrying her brother when we were kids."
"So the Emperor of the Empire was a brocon when she was little?" Nova blinked her golden eyes, as if a door to a new world had just opened.
"You can just take that as casual talk. It's not very reliable," Alice reminded her.
"If possible, Zepha, I hope you can ensure Miles' safety after the banquet," Homar requested.
Although they had not known each other long, anyone whom his sister Nova valued so much naturally held weight in Homar's heart as well.
Not to mention being the prime candidate for a future brother-in-law.
"Of course," Zepha Soroya nodded in promise.
"It's regrettable that we're missing the combat strength of a Duelist who commands a God Card, but at this point, we can only press forward. We have to stop my foolish sister from summoning a god that would destroy the world."
Amid a faintly tense atmosphere, everyone waited in quiet for the official start of the banquet.
And as the signal for the banquet's opening, naturally, the protagonist of the night would take the stage.
Dressed in more solemn and majestic imperial attire than usual, a jet-black cloak bearing the Empire's emblem floating behind her, the blue-haired, blue-eyed young Empress walked step by step toward the throne at the highest point under the gaze of all.
"She's finally here," Aisha said.
"That is the Empire's strongest Emperor… Quaedes," Dark Aisha murmured.
Even though they had already known that the Emperor was a girl, seeing her in person still made one involuntarily gasp in admiration.
Her appearance was that of a delicate and beautiful young girl; yet, seated upon the throne, Emperor Quaedes lacked none of the overwhelming aura befitting a final boss.
Even without having witnessed her duel personally, a Duelist's instincts alone kept sounding the warning: this one is strong.
Irena observed carefully. "Her Majesty doesn't look very happy. Rather… she seems a little angry."
"Angry?" Nova noticed as well. "There does seem to be a bit of that. Though it's her own birthday, she's keeping such a stern face."
Prince Zepha explained, "No, no, my sister always wears that serious expression in daily life. It's just that today… something does feel different."
Even her own older brother could sense the anger concealed beneath Quaedes' icy exterior.
Zepha frowned. "Did something happen to upset her? At a time like this, that wouldn't be good."
Even though more than one person present sensed the Emperor's anger, no one dared to say a word. They could only wait for Quaedes to officially announce the start of the banquet.
Perhaps this Emperor, who revered strength, would feel somewhat better after witnessing sufficiently intense duels.
This was a golden opportunity to perform before the Emperor. Quite a few Duelists at the banquet were already rubbing their hands eagerly, ready to try.
Yet after waiting with anticipation for a long while, when Emperor Quaedes finally spoke, her opening line was something no one had expected.
"Boring duels. I have no desire to watch them tonight. Let's get straight to the main matter."
The young girl's icy voice echoed throughout the banquet hall. Her startling declaration stirred whispers among the crowd.
"Does that mean the customary banquet duels are canceled?"
"The main matter? What is the main matter of the banquet?"
"My dear sister truly has no intention of playing by the rules," Zepha bit his thumb. A change to the duel schedule during the banquet was exactly what he had feared most in his plan.
But it was still too early to draw conclusions. Quaedes had yet to explain what she meant by the 'main matter.'
Having just sat down not long ago, Quaedes slowly rose again from the throne. She removed the jet-black cloak emblazoned with the Empire's crest and casually flung it onto the throne.
"Warriors gathered here, come and challenge Me! Tonight, I will accept all of your challenges without condition!"
"!!!"
The entire hall erupted in an uproar. No one had expected that the 'main matter' Emperor Quaedes spoke of would be skipping all the preliminary duels and directly battling the Emperor herself.
And it wasn't as simple as just one duel.
Unconditionally accepting everyone's challenges… Emperor Quaedes seemed intent on defeating every Duelist present.
One had to know that those invited to the Empire's banquet were all renowned powerhouses of the Spirit Continent.
One person against all of you… absolute arrogance from the strongest Emperor.
"Is this… our chance?" Aisha asked excitedly.
She had thought she would need to defeat the other Duelists first to earn the right to face the Emperor. However, Quaedes had stepped forward openly, accepting anyone's challenge without even a prelude.
"It could be a trap," Alice analyzed calmly. "Since the Emperor said she'll accept everyone's challenge, there's no harm in observing for a while first."
Irena reminded her, "And Miles hasn't returned yet. Are you planning to challenge the Empire's strongest Emperor alone, Aisha?"
"(?oωo?) Y-Yes… that's right."
The banquet hall buzzed with discussion for quite some time.
Though the chance to challenge the Emperor was a rare honor, now that the opportunity was truly before them, no one dared to step forward first.
"Let this old man test the waters first!"
At last, from among the crowd stepped forth a dignified elder with white hair and beard, yet an aura no weaker than that of the young.
"That's…?" Homar Kaiser exclaimed in surprise. "The Sword Saint, Brude! I never thought that a top-tier powerhouse whose fame spread across the continent fifty years ago would attend the Empire's invitation this year!"
"That grandpa is very strong?" Aisha tilted her head curiously.
"Very strong," Alice explained. "He's a monster from the same era as the Empire Marshal. I've heard Sword Saint Brude disliked officialdom and worldly affairs, so he chose to live in obscurity. That's why his fame isn't as great as the Empire Marshal's."
"A hidden master, huh." Nova's eyes shone with anticipation. "That does sound cool and powerful."
"Oh? Only an outdated old man dares to challenge Me? How disappointing."
Her words were utterly merciless. Even when facing a veteran Duelist of the older generation, Quaedes showed not the slightest regard.
As for Sword Saint Brude, who had lived in seclusion for many years, he carried an air of detached grace. Even in the face of ridicule, his composure did not waver.
"Your Majesty, being overly impetuous is not a good thing. Allow this old man to experience it for himself."
"Enough talk. Duel!"
A duel spanning generations formally began in the banquet hall.
Sword Saint Brude took the first turn.
"I Normal Summon in Attack Position—Merlin!"
[Merlin] Level 3│DARK│Spellcaster│1400 ATK
Legends of King Arthur passed down in Britain—[Merlin], the guiding force at the very beginning, was the key Monster who set Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table upon the path of the Holy Sword.
"I Tribute [Merlin] and Special Summon 1 'Noble Knight' monster from my Deck! Then I equip the Spell Card [Noble Arms - Caliburn] from my hand!"
The synergy between Noble Knights and Holy Swords unfolded. Even before numerous elite Duelists, Sword Saint Brude displayed the vigor of a blade that had not dulled with age.
Using his Noble Knight to Xyz Summon King Arthur, then activating Arthur's effect to equip all Noble Arms.
Just as everyone thought that even Emperor Quaedes would have to struggle against a Sword Saint once famed alongside the Empire Marshal—
"Spell Card [Rank-Up-Magic - The Seventh One], activate!"
During her first turn's Draw Phase, she revealed The Seventh One. In response to Quaedes, the monsters from Number 101 to 107 were freely summoned and Chaos Ranked-Up.
"Roar, silent raging tide. Ark that bears the unsatisfied souls! Rise from the abyss where even light cannot reach—Number 101: Silent Honor ARK!"
Bursting from the sea, the pure white silent ark was instantly enveloped in the light of Chaos Rank-Up.
"Appear, Chaos Number 101! Guardian of unsatisfied souls. Become a knight of darkness and shatter the light! Number C101: Silent Honor DARK!"
From ark to jet-black dark knight, once its Xyz Effect activated, it instantly swallowed King Arthur equipped with multiple Noble Arms.
[Once per turn: You can target 1 Special Summoned monster your opponent controls; attach it to this card as Xyz Material.]
It directly absorbed the opponent's ace monster as Xyz Material. Not sent to the Graveyard, not banished, not returned to the Deck—so even its last words could not trigger. This was the raging Chaos Xyz of Emperor Quaedes.
"Next, I Normal Summon [Buzzsaw Shark]! By its effect, I Special Summon a Level 4 monster from my Deck—Xyz Summon!"
The continuous burst of Xyz fury left the opponent no chance to resist.
"Awaken, Number 37! When the long-slumbering powers of earth and sea intertwine, a new light of life shall erupt forth! Number 37: Hope Woven Dragon Spider Shark!"
Hope Woven Dragon Spider Shark and Silent Honor DARK unleashed a tidal wave of direct attacks on Quaedes' field, instantly defeating Sword Saint Brude, who moments ago had seemed capable of pushing the Emperor into a hard fight.
"Aaaaaaah!"
[Brude, LP: 4000 → 0]
"H-Hey… was that an instant kill?"
A crushing battle beyond everyone's expectations. Feeling the oppressive force of the Emperor's overwhelming strength, the Duelists present broke into cold sweat.
The Empire's strongest Emperor, Quaedes, was even more monstrous than imagined.
Just as some began hesitating over whether they should try challenging the Emperor—only to become cannon fodder—the first to step forward, Sword Saint Brude, gave them all a warning.
After being defeated by Emperor Quaedes, Brude let out a pained cry. His aged body collapsed straight to the ground, unconscious.
"Old man… did he just die of old age on the spot?"
….
TL: Surely. Seventh time this week.
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