"The card is burning again?"
Seeing the flames swirling around Aisha's fingertips for the second time, and recalling how she had just recycled cards from her Graveyard, Quaedes had already grown wary.
"You actually drew the God Card again immediately after returning it."
Even Emperor Quaedes had to admit that Aisha Carlos' bond with the God Card was astonishingly strong. The Winged Dragon of Ra had practically fought throughout the entire Duel in her hands.
However, in Quaedes' view, drawing the God Card again at a time like this was not a favorable development.
"The summoning of a god requires three monsters on the field as Tributes. And Aisha Carlos, you currently do not have a single monster on your field!"
Without meeting the conditions to summon a god, and even if she did manage to summon one, The Winged Dragon of Ra—whose Attack could skyrocket by combining the Tributes and the Duelist's Life Points—still could not defeat Number C73: Abyss Supra Splash.
"Not meeting the conditions to summon a god…"
Staring at the newly drawn God Card in her hand, Aisha's expression shifted from initial shock to awe after understanding its effect, and finally to delight as she looked at the three monsters on Quaedes' field.
If this The Winged Dragon of Ra - Sphere Mode was also a change brought about by Alice's blank card, then Aisha was willing to call it her sister's miracle card.
"I'm going in, Sis!"
Holding the burning God Card between her fingers, Aisha thrust it forward.
"Since the monsters on my field don't meet the conditions for the god's summoning, then I'll use the monsters on your field instead!"
"Nani?"
Divine flames erupted from the card once more, sweeping across the entire field.
But this time, the flames engulfed Quaedes' field.
The Emperor's three Xyz Monsters—Number C107: Neo Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon, Number C73: Abyss Supra Splash, and Gimmick Puppet Disaster Leo—were suddenly trapped by a circle of crimson fire that burst forth from the ground without warning.
"Impossible—my monsters!"
Within the raging ring of fire, the white light of monsters being Tributed for a high-level summon began to spread before Emperor Quaedes.
"I Tribute all three monsters on your field as the offering for the descent of the God Card!"
Brilliant white light exploded as the three monsters were reduced to beams of light within the flames, converging into the card at Aisha's fingertips.
"Emperor Quaedes, since you're so obsessed with the God Cards, I'll give you this one! Using your monsters as the Tributes, I Normal Summon onto your field—The Winged Dragon of Ra - Sphere Mode!"
For the second time in the same Duel, The Winged Dragon of Ra descended.
But this time, the form that descended was truly the 'sun' itself—a golden sphere burning within blazing flames, suspended in the sky.
[The Winged Dragon of Ra - Sphere Mode] Level 10│DIVINE│Divine-Beast│? ATK
[Cannot be Special Summoned. When this card is Normal Summoned: You must Tribute 3 monsters from your side of the field to Normal Summon it on your side of the field, or Tribute 3 monsters from your opponent's side of the field to Normal Summon it on your opponent's side of the field.]
"It gave birth to a ball?" Alice exclaimed.
Elra replied, "It devoured all three monsters on the opponent's field in one gulp. As expected of a god—even the power of devouring is expressed in such a terrifying way."
The Winged Dragon of Ra had descended a second time in a manner no one present had anticipated.
And it had descended onto Emperor Quaedes' field.
A genuine DIVINE Attribute. A genuine Divine-Beast. A genuine God Card that Quaedes had long yearned for now floated above his own field.
Yet this fleeting divine power did not belong to Quaedes.
[The control of this card returns to its original owner during the End Phase of the next turn.]
Since the monster had been summoned to Quaedes' field, he naturally noticed this effect.
During the End Phase of the next turn—that is, the End Phase of Quaedes' turn—The Winged Dragon of Ra - Sphere Mode would return to Aisha's field, and then combine with another effect.
[You can Tribute this card; Special Summon 1 "The Winged Dragon of Ra" from your hand or Deck, ignoring its Summoning conditions, and if you do, its Attack and Defense become 4000.]
In one move, she had devoured all of Quaedes' monsters. Then on the next turn, Aisha could transform this Sphere Mode directly into The Winged Dragon of Ra with 4000 Attack.
To Emperor Quaedes, who had never once been able to truly touch a God Card, this was the greatest possible provocation.
"I Set two more cards and end my turn."
Since Sphere Mode could not be attacked and could not be targeted by card effects while on the field, after devouring everything, Aisha could only Set cards in defense and wait for the true return of Ra from her Deck on the next turn.
"Aisha Carlos, you will regret this. You will regret provoking my wrath! My turn—Draw!"
Drawing the card to begin her turn, Quaedes' icy blue eyes swept across its surface.
"—I activate the Spell Card Card of Demise! Both players draw until they have 6 cards in their hand!"
In its original effect, Card of Demise provided an enormous amount of draw power to both sides at once.
However, this replenishment varied from person to person. Having already refilled her hand with five cards through Card of Last Will, Aisha could not fully benefit from the effect of Card of Demise, while Quaedes was able to draw up to six cards in one breath.
"As long as I can grasp even the faintest hope, I will not release the God Card!"
Drawing six cards in succession, what Quaedes desired at this moment was only one particular card slumbering within her Deck.
That card was enough for Quaedes to stake her entire soul and summon a true god onto her field.
"Doro——!"
With six cards added to her hand, a silver glint flashed through Emperor Quaedes' icy blue eyes.
Immediately, she flipped over the face-down Trap Card in her back row.
"—Trap Card Tri-and-Guess!"
[If each player has an Extra Deck: Declare 1 Extra Deck monster card type (Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz); both players reveal their Extra Deck, and the player who has more cards of the declared card type gains 3000 Life Points.]
A Trap Card that compared the number of a certain type of monster in both players' Extra Decks and restored a large amount of Life Points.
As the Emperor of the Holy Varian Empire, the type of monster Quaedes chose required no explanation.
"I declare Xyz Monsters in the Extra Deck. Reveal your cards, Aisha Carlos!"
There was no need for comparison. She seized her entire Extra Deck and cast it into the air, countless black cards spinning and floating above her head.
When it came to the number of Xyz Monsters in their Extra Decks, the two were not even on the same level.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that ever since Quaedes awakened Spirit Eyes, her life had been a continuous path of acquiring Xyz Monsters.
[Quaedes, LP: 601 → 3601]
This meaningless interlude concluded as Quaedes' Life Points were massively restored. The Xyz black cards drifting through the air automatically returned to her Spirit Eyes.
And only with this recovery of Life Points could she satisfy the activation requirement of the key card to come.
"You will regret Summoning The Winged Dragon of Ra - Sphere Mode onto my field! —I activate the Spell Card Lullaby of Obedience!"
[Pay 1000 Life Points; declare the name of 1 Level 8 or higher monster. Your opponent reveals their Deck, and if the declared monster is among the revealed cards, add that card to your hand.]
[Quaedes, LP: 3601 → 2601]
There was no need to overthink why this card existed in Quaedes' Deck. It was prepared precisely to seize the universally known God Card from Royal Knight Aisha Carlos' Deck.
When Aisha had summoned The Winged Dragon of Ra on her very first turn, Quaedes had believed she would never have the chance to use this card.
Fate toyed with them—or perhaps destiny moved unseen.
Just when Quaedes had given up on this card, Aisha Carlos had shuffled The Winged Dragon of Ra back into her Deck and then Summoned The Winged Dragon of Ra - Sphere Mode onto her field.
"The monster I declare is The Winged Dragon of Ra in your Deck!"
Without hesitation, she declared the god. The effect of Lullaby of Obedience reached straight into Aisha Carlos' Deck and transferred the blazing card into Quaedes' hand.
The Winged Dragon of Ra.
Emperor Quaedes' icy blue eyes fixed upon the card that had finally come into her possession.
Was it a dream? Or simply a pursuit of absolute power?
Quaedes could no longer remember how long she had walked the path of seeking divine power ever since encountering the Creator God.
Even without the opportunity to truly obtain a God Card, even without the innate ability to command one.
Merely holding The Winged Dragon of Ra in her hand, Quaedes could clearly sense that if she forcibly summoned one of the three Egyptian Gods, even her own soul would likely endure the burning wrath of a deity.
The backlash upon her soul for forcibly wielding divine power.
"Hmph—so what!"
Quaedes laughed. Upon her frost-cold face, a rare smile curved at the corner of her lips.
Before the power she had always pursued, what did it matter if her soul were burned?
Even if the divine backlash reduced her to ashes, Quaedes believed only one thing—she would never relinquish this opportunity to summon a god.
A single, blazing moment.
The frost emperor who ignited herself in divine flame.
"Come. The Winged Dragon of Ra - Sphere Mode, activate your effect!"
Accepting Quaedes' command, the burning golden sphere in the sky began to mechanically split and transform.
At the same time, the flames dripping and spreading from Sphere Mode touched the palace floor—and truly began to burn.
No longer a semi-virtual projection cast by Spirit Eyes, the rapidly spreading flames across the field carried real heat. Even standing opposite her, Aisha could feel that touching those flames would be extremely dangerous.
Yet the first to be trapped by the scorching fire was none other than its summoner, Quaedes herself.
"So this is the backlash of divine wrath… Is that all?"
Even while standing within the flames, Quaedes did not abandon the summoning of the God Card.
Of course, the spreading fire that served as a warning was merely a prelude to the wrath of a god.
In the sky, Sphere Mode had already completed its transformation into the true Ra.
"Either burn my soul to ashes, or fight with all your might! Special Summon—The Winged Dragon of Ra!"
The boiling flames exploded in that instant. True divine wrath, crimson lightning mixed with thunderous roars, swept across the entire field and erupted throughout the whole palace.
"Not good!"
Most of those gathered in the venue were renowned Duelists from across the Spirit Continent.
They had already foreseen that Quaedes forcibly summoning a God Card would trigger a backlash.
In the instant before the thunderous flames detonated, the Duelists collectively Summoned protective monsters to resist the surging inferno crashing toward them.
Even so, quite a few were left reeling from the sudden searing heat.
If even the onlookers suffered such real damage, there was no need to mention the two standing at the very center of the god's wrath.
"Your Majesty!"
"Aisha!"
Everyone looked toward the Duel field in concern. However, the overwhelming blaze completely blocked their view. No one knew what was happening within the flames.
"Ow, ow, ow!"
For a brief moment, Aisha felt as though she had lost consciousness. When she came to, she lay in the scorched ruins left by the sweeping flames, her face covered in soot.
Her clothes bore many burn marks, but fortunately she still had enough strength to stand.
"Continue the fight, Aisha Carlos."
Emperor Quaedes' voice came from beyond the flames. As Aisha rose to her feet, her pupils contracted.
[The Winged Dragon of Ra, ATK: 4000]
Having successfully Special Summoned The Winged Dragon of Ra, Quaedes still had flames flickering upon her clothes.
The damage was not merely physical. As one who did not possess a Millennium Item yet had forcibly Summoned a God Card, the backlash of divine wrath extended to her soul.
It was clearly visible that the flames burning her soul were causing Quaedes' pale skin to wither gradually.
Even with Ra summoned, in her current state, Quaedes likely would not endure for long.
Of course, she did not need to endure for long. One strike would be enough to end the Duel.
"This is bad… My Set cards can't stop a god."
Soot-covered, Aisha looked despairingly at the cards Set in her back row.
A God Card is unaffected by the opponent's Trap effects, and at the end of the previous turn, Aisha could never have imagined that Ra would be forcibly Summoned by Quaedes.
"I don't want to lose to my own card!"
Looking at The Winged Dragon of Ra on Quaedes' field, still burning with soul-consuming flames, Aisha clenched her teeth unwillingly.
"I don't want this…"
"You fought beautifully, Aisha!"
"!!!"
That voice was like a ray of dawn piercing into Aisha Carlos' heart at the brink of despair.
"That voice… Mr. Miles!"
"You fought beautifully, so leave the rest to me, Aisha!"
The Millennium Puzzle swayed within the flames.
With the remote Soul Shift completed after the Anti–National Transmutation Array had been set up on the outskirts of the imperial capital, Miles finally arrived—just in time for the final moment of the Duel against Quaedes.
"I always believed in you, Aisha. Even against the strongest Emperor of the Empire, you had the power to fight. And besides…"
Having successfully taken control of Aisha's body through soul exchange, Miles once again met Quaedes' gaze.
"Besides, I still have a debt to settle with you, Quaedes!"
---
If you want to support, please consider Patreon and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going! [Patreon.com/RedZTL]