Phila placed her hand above her Deck.
"My turn, draw!" The girl's voice was clear and resolute.
"I Normal Summon [Moissa Wight], and activate its second effect. When this card is Normal or Special Summoned, you can add one 'Skull Servant' or a card that lists that name from your Deck to your hand, except [Moissa Wight]. For the rest of this turn, you cannot Special Summon monsters except Zombies."
She took a card from the Deck that popped out.
"I add the Continuous Spell [Wight Reanimator] to my hand."
Rikka's eyes turned cold.
A Skull Servant deck… this was a very well-known archetype.
This deck had only one end goal: to stack Skull Servants in the Graveyard and use that to give the King of the Skull Servants massive Attack.
The defensive strategy was simple: shut down that end piece or destroy the engine that feeds the Graveyard.
"Next, I use [Moissa Wight]'s third effect. In addition to my Normal Summon, once during my Main Phase, I can Normal Summon one Level 4 or lower Zombie monster."
Phila placed another card from her hand onto the Duel Disk.
"I perform an additional Normal Summon of [Uni-Zombie]! Then I activate its first effect. Target one face-up monster on the field; discard one card, and increase that monster's Level by 1. I target Uni-Zombie and discard [Necroworld Banshee] from my hand! Uni-Zombie becomes Level 4."
A card was precisely sent to the Graveyard.
Immediately, Phila's hand reached toward the Graveyard again.
"I activate the second effect of [Necroworld Banshee] in the Graveyard. During either player's turn, you can banish this card from your field or Graveyard; activate one [Zombie World] from your hand or Deck. I activate the Field Spell directly from my Deck!"
The Duel Disk let out a heavy hum.
The bright, sunny plaza seemed to have all its color stripped away in an instant. Gray fog seeped up from the ground, and ghostly tombstones rose along both sides of the street.
The entire street transformed into a grim, deathly underworld.
The most noticeable change occurred on Rikka's field. The Fusion Monster [Thunder Dragon Titan], which had been bathed in sacred golden lightning, along with the lone wolf; both were now covered in a thick aura of death.
This massive being that radiated the might of thunder, along with [Aloof Lupine], were turned into Zombies under the rules of Zombie World.
Rikka tightened her grip on the card in her hand.
She lowered her gaze to the [Thunder Dragonmatrix] held between her fingers.
The effect of Thunder Dragonmatrix required targeting a Thunder monster on her field, but now all monsters on the field had become Zombies.
If she wanted to trigger Titan's destruction effect, the Thunder Dragonmatrix in her hand, which required a target, had been fully nullified.
Her only remaining option was the [Thunder Dragondark] in her hand, which didn't require targeting a Thunder monster and could search itself by discarding.
"What? It can even change Types?" Rikka stared coldly at the opponent's field.
Phila did not pause.
"Following that, I activate [Uni-Zombie]'s second effect. Target one face-up monster on the field; send one Zombie monster from my Deck to the Graveyard, and increase that monster's Level by 1. I send [Wightbaking] to the Graveyard!"
Uni-Zombie became Level 5.
Phila drew out a card and decisively sent it to the Graveyard.
Raku, floating nearby, raised an eyebrow.
That decisiveness in sending monsters to the Graveyard… seems the jeep training paid off well.
"[Wightbaking]'s effect activates. When this card is sent to the Graveyard, you can add two 'Skull Servant' or monsters that list that name from your Deck to your hand, then discard one card."
Phila took two cards from the Deck she searched.
"I add [King of the Skull Servants] and [Wightprincess] to my hand. Then I discard [King of the Skull Servants] to the Graveyard!"
A proper burial.
Only by entering the Graveyard could the resentment within these bones erupt into world-destroying power.
"Next, I activate the Continuous Spell I just added–[Wight Reanimator]!"
A Spell Card depicting a grotesque throne was flipped face-up.
Rikka's blue eyes sharpened.
A Continuous Spell–and one specifically searched. It was undoubtedly a core engine piece of the deck.
Phila pointed at the Spell Card.
"I activate the second effect of [Wight Reanimator]. Once per turn, target one [Skull Servant] or [King of the Skull Servants] in your Graveyard; send one 'Skull Servant' or a monster that lists that name from your Deck to the Graveyard, then Special Summon the targeted monster. After this effect resolves, you cannot Special Summon monsters except Zombies for the rest of this turn. I target–"
"Not happening!"
Rikka's cold voice cut through Phila's declaration like a blade.
"I Chain-2 to your Wight Reanimator! I activate the first effect of [Thunder Dragondark] from my hand–discard this card; add one [Thunder Dragondark] from my Deck to my hand!"
Golden lightning burst from Rikka's fingertips. She didn't even look at the search result that appeared, instead sharply pointing toward Phila's back row.
"After that, Chain-3 [Thunder Dragon Titan]'s first effect! When a Thunder monster's effect is activated in the hand, you can destroy one card on the field. I destroy your [Wight Reanimator]!"
The three-headed dragon, shrouded in deathly energy, let out a roar as a massive bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking the newly activated Continuous Spell.
Rikka's ahoge stood rigid in the wind as she delivered the final judgment:
"A Continuous Spell destroyed and removed from the field–its effect cannot be applied!"
Before the smoke had fully cleared, the shattered Continuous Spell dissolved into particles of light.
Phila let out a breath.
"In that case, I enter the Battle Phase!"
Rikka was momentarily stunned.
She glanced at the opponent's field. There were only two monsters standing there–a lone [Uni-Zombie] with 1300 Attack, and [Moissa Wight] with a mere 300 Attack.
How could she dare enter the Battle Phase?
Use 1300 to crash into a 3200 dragon?
"Uni-Zombie, attack [Thunder Dragon Titan]!" Phila raised her hand, pointing straight at the massive being shrouded in deathly aura.
Rikka's brows knit tightly.
This was a complete suicidal charge. Does she have a Quick-Play Spell? Titan itself has a destruction replacement effect.
"Now, I activate the first effect of [Vampire Fraulein] in my hand," Phila's declaration cut through her thoughts. "When an attack is declared, I can Special Summon this card from my hand in Defense Position!"
A blonde vampire in a luxurious dress lightly descended among the ranks of the undead.
"Then I activate Vampire Fraulein's second effect! During damage calculation, when my Zombie monster battles, once, I can pay Life Points in multiples of 100. That monster gains Attack and Defense equal to the amount paid, up to 3000, during that damage calculation!"
Phila closed her eyes, slightly raising her pale neck.
"I pay 2000 Life Points!"
Fraulein gracefully floated behind Phila, her cold lips brushing against the girl's neck as sharp fangs were revealed.
Along with the girl's muffled groan, crimson Life Points transformed into violent energy, surging through the veins of Zombie World and flooding into the once frail zombie.
[Uni-Zombie, ATK: 1300 → 3300]
The empowered zombie let out a shrill howl. It tore through the lightning barrier before it and pierced straight through Titan's body. The massive three-headed dragon collapsed with a wail.
The shockwave lifted Rikka's black coat.
"Destroyed Titan? And by battle?!" Rikka gritted her teeth and glanced at her Life Points after the battle damage.
Just a scratch.
Albeit the absolute dominance on the field had been broken.
"With that, Main Phase 2. Haa…"
Phila clenched her fists.
Normally, she would stutter even just speaking to someone in class. But now, she had to reach out to a complete stranger whose presence alone felt freezing.
Still, Mr. Spirit's message had to be conveyed.
"My name is Phila." She looked straight into Rikka's eyes. "What's your name?"
Rikka frowned.
"Rikka." She looked at the white-haired girl across from her with caution. "Are you trying to provoke me?"
"I just want to know you." Phila took a deep breath and gathered her courage. "You said earlier you've been upset lately… is it because of someone important?"
At those words, Rikka's hand at her side suddenly clenched.
…That idiot big brother lying in the hospital bed, only able to communicate through parchment.
"That's none of your business." Rikka turned her head away and rejected her coldly.
Phila lowered her head. She could feel the thorns keeping others at a distance.
A deep breath.
All she needed to do… was connect everyone.
Phila raised her head again. A firm flush spread across her previously timid face as she shouted out the line she had borrowed from Bakutaro.
"It is! Because we're already partners who have dueled together!"
Rikka turned back in shock.
Abruptly, at that moment, Phila herself felt a strange clarity.
Yes. Partners.
The real sensation of Fraulein, the deathly aura radiating from the King of the Skull Servants in the Graveyard, and Mr. Spirit's silent companionship all this time.
The meaning of Synchro Summoning.
Wasn't it… the resonance of hearts between partners?
"It might… work!" Phila raised her right hand high. The Duel Disk on her wrist erupted with a blinding white glow.
"Summoning condition: 1 Zombie Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters! I tune my Level 5 Tuner [Uni-Zombie] with the Level 5 [Vampire Fraulein]!"
Five green Synchro rings passed one after another through Fraulein's body as it turned into streams of light.
A path was forcibly opened in the sky of Zombie World.
"Unyielding flames of vengeance, unleash the king of possibility! Rise once more and roar–"
Phila slammed the new card she had drawn from her card box onto the field. The pitch-black dragon on the card seemed to respond to her call.
"[Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord]!"
The moment the words left her mouth, Phila's face turned deathly pale.
An overwhelming, suffocating cold pressure surged back from the card. This was nothing like the gentle bite of Fraulein; this was a high-level being carrying the aura of destruction. For Phila as she was now, forcibly summoning a Level 10 legendary beast made her legs nearly lose all sensation.
She was about to collapse.
At the moment her knees buckled, Raku took over part of the burden.
With a roar powerful enough to shatter the streetlights, a black dragon covered in charred textures, with cold blue flames burning in the gaps of its bones, slowly crawled out from the skeletal abyss of Zombie World.
It spread its sky-obscuring blue flame wings and looked down upon Rikka.
The oppressive death aura formed into a tangible gale, forcing Rikka to stagger backward several steps before barely regaining her footing.
[Red-Eyes Zombie Dragon Lord, DEF: 2400]
Supported by Raku, Phila steadied herself, her chest rising and falling violently.
"My turn… ends."
Rikka stood frozen, staring at the black dragon radiating endless pressure. Behind that dragon stood the girl who kept insisting they were partners.
Rikka bit her lip until it bled.
So this is what you call partners?
Relying on shouting slogans, relying on something so intangible… can that really protect what matters in this cruel world?
It's all a lie.
If something like that really worked, that idiot brother wouldn't have been so badly hurt!
The only thing that can protect everything… is absolute power held in one's own hands, power that can tear apart every obstacle!
"My turn, draw!"
Rikka held the drawn card before her eyes.
On its surface, the pitch-black tone resembled a bottomless abyss. The green border emitted a deadly pull.
It was the [Allure of Darkness] she had just placed into her Deck at the card shop.
...
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