"I overlay my 2 Level 2 monsters! Xyz Summon, Rank 2!"
The two stars stacked, their Xyz Overlay merging into the card, awakening the brand-new Xyz Monster that Dark Aisha had summoned.
Dark Aisha yelled: "Take this, Miles. This one's really handy!"
"Here we go!—Number 29: Mannequin Cat!"
[Number 29: Mannequin Cat] Rank 2│LIGHT│Beast│2000 ATK / 900 DEF
Two Level 2 fodder monsters stacked for a monster with 2000 Attack. Its design, a mix between a toy and a catgirl, had the spectators shouting that they were all for it.
"Nya~ 'ω'?"
Aisha tilted her head, confused: "Nya? Since when did I have an adorable monster like this, Mr. Miles?"
"Uh…" Miles deflected, "Same as usual… when the mood's right, it just pops up?"
No way he could tell Aisha, "That's your other self's monster, the one you summoned just a few days ago."
"Anyway, I activate the effect of [Number 29: Mannequin Cat]!"
Standing on the field, the Mannequin Cat swung its arms mechanically, its cute catgirl face forming a cheeky "Come play with me, big guy!" expression.
[Once per turn: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card, then target 1 monster in your opponent's Graveyard; Special Summon that target to your opponent's field.]
"Through Mannequin Cat's effect, I Special Summon [Force Resonator] from your Graveyard to your field in Attack Position!"
[Force Resonator, ATK: 500]
Drawn in by Mannequin Cat's charm, the Tuner monster that had been resting in Lost's Graveyard was revived onto the field.
"What?" Lost exclaimed. "You went out of your way to use an Xyz effect to revive a monster to my field? What the hell for?"
"Heh." Miles gave a mysterious grin. "Because Mannequin Cat has another effect—one that activates when a monster is Special Summoned to your field!"
[If a monster is Special Summoned to your opponent's field while this card is in the Monster Zone: You can target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls; Special Summon 1 monster from your hand, Deck, or Graveyard with the same Type or Attribute as that monster.]
"I target your Fiend [Force Resonator], and from my Deck I Special Summon a Fiend monster!"
The card he pulled out crackled with thunder as Miles slammed it down onto the street.
"Come forth! From my Deck, stronger than a Synchro—Archfiend of my arsenal!—Descend, [Summoned Skull]!"
[Summoned Skull] Level 6│DARK│Fiend│2500 ATK / 1200 DEF
A blinding bolt of demonic lightning struck the street. With a deafening roar, the 6-star King of Single Tribute Summons descended, boasting an Attack even higher than [Exploder Dragonwing].
"Oooh, that looks a little scary."
"It's powering up!"
The crowd had thought Aisha would only be using cutesy monsters. Nobody expected this terrifying Fiend to ramp up the duel's intensity.
Ren said with delight, "Exploder Dragonwing's effect only works on monsters with lower Attack than itself. Still, Summoned Skull has 2500 Attack!"
"Time for battle. I'll return the favor with this strike! Battle!"
Declaring the Battle Phase, Miles commanded his three monsters to swarm Lost's field.
"Attack Exploder Dragonwing!—Demonic Thunder!"
Summoned Skull's thunder crashed down, shattering Exploder Dragonwing with a 100-point Attack advantage.
[Lost, LP: 4000 → 3900]
"Next, [Number 29: Mannequin Cat] attacks [Force Resonator]—!"
"Nyaa! Nyaa! Nyaa!"
A dizzying flurry of cat claws shredded the Tuner that had been lured in by its effect.
[Lost, LP: 3900 → 2400]
"Blast it, to get wiped out by an Xyz combo like this…"
Her Synchro monster was destroyed, her Life Points were slashed nearly in half, Lost—who had been proud of her lead just a turn ago—now wore a furious scowl.
"You think this is over?"
Yet, Miles still had one last thing to do.
"Lost, your empty field has left you wide open. Which means now…"
"Use the Mokey Punch on her!" Irena, Lishia, and Ren shouted in unison.
"Direct attack!—Mokey Punch!!"
The flying tofu block gathered momentum on its stubby arms and socked the delinquent girl square across the face.
When a Duelist's will is strong enough, the monsters can deal real damage.
That single Friendship-Facebreaker Punch left Lost's still-pretty face twisted into a pained grimace as she spun three times in the air before crashing down.
"Lost really got smacked hard there," Aoyao commented from the car door.
[Lost, LP: 2400 → 2100]
The damage wasn't huge—but the humiliation was brutal.
Right in front of everyone, a Synchron Academy student had just been beaten down in the street with a block of tofu by a student from bottom-tier Fusion Academy.
"Damn you! Unforgivable! I'll never let you off for this!"
Lost shot off her three-part delinquent curse, her face still flushed red from the hit, swelling slightly at the cheek.
Miles's verdict was that a few scrapes and bruises made a delinquent look more authentic. A clean and unscathed delinquent? Unthinkable.
"I Set two cards. Turn end."
Miles, satisfied after counterattacking with Mokey Punch, ended his turn by Setting two cards.
"At the moment you end your turn, I activate my Trap—[The Deep Grave]!"
[Target 1 monster in your or your opponent's Graveyard; during your next Standby Phase, Special Summon that target to your field.]
Lost flipped her revival Trap. Its delayed revival effect triggered as Miles ended his turn, primed to activate during her Standby Phase.
"My turn, draw! During my Standby Phase, [The Deep Grave] revives [Exploder Dragonwing] from the Graveyard!"
[Exploder Dragonwing ATK: 2400]
Her Synchro returned, its furious roar echoing Lost's own burning shame.
"This turn, I'll crush you! Spell Card activate—[Earthquake]!"
[All face-up monsters on the field are changed to Defense Position.]
The moment the Spell was activated, the street shook violently. To keep their balance, every monster was forced down into a crouching Defense Position.
Lishia pointed out: "But with [Earthquake] activated, doesn't that mean your Exploder Dragonwing is also stuck in Defense Position? It won't be able to attack this turn."
After all, the Spell's effect applied to every monster on the field—even the flying Exploder Dragonwing couldn't escape the tremors.
"I won't be attacking with Dragonwing! I'll crush you and all your defenders in one blow—through my blazing spirit!"
"What… could it be?"
Miles looked at Lost. Her delinquent's Spirit Eyes shone with crimson fire, and the words "Red Dragon Archfiend" seemed to blaze on the back of her coat.
"I Normal Summon [Chain Resonator] in Attack Position!"
[Chain Resonator] Level 1│LIGHT│Fiend/Tuner│100 ATK / 100 DEF
Another Tuner holding a tuning fork appeared, this one adorned with chains, floating beside Dragonwing.
"Now I tune my Level 1 [Chain Resonator] with my Level 7 [Exploder Dragonwing]!"
Dragonwing was used as Synchro Material, its gathered stars forming a circle that engulfed its terrifying frame—summoning a Synchro Dragon of even higher Level.
1★ + 7★ = 8★!
"Behold the King's roar! The power that shakes the world! Synchro Summon—Red Dragon Archfiend!"
[Red Dragon Archfiend] Level 8│DARK│Dragon/Synchro/Effect│3000 ATK / 2000 DEF
...
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