Huginn the Runick Wings was destroyed at once. Warner felt a jolt of joy—only to see that Huginn didn't go to the Graveyard but returned to the Extra Deck. He froze. After finally destroying one of Morgan's monsters, it didn't even hit the Graveyard in the end.
As of now, not a single card in Morgan's Graveyard had been put there by Warner. Partly it was because Morgan didn't run many monsters; however, to a duelist like Warner, who prided himself on raw Attack—this was nothing short of humiliating.
Morgan's cold voice cut in:
"'Huginn the Runick Wings' effect."
"If this card on the field is destroyed by battle or card effect: return this card to its owner's Extra Deck."
Warner snapped his head up and glared at her.
You cocky brat… Your monster and your Field Spell are gone. Let's see how you stop my direct attack now!
He bared a cruel smile and shouted as he pointed at Morgan:
"My attack isn't over! Pile Armed Dragon—direct attack!"
Pile Armed Dragon's drill launched like a missile, then split apart, raining a barrage from above. Flaming drills fell around Morgan, detonating the instant they struck the ground and filling the air with smoke and dust.
Her Life Points plummeted. From 8000, they dropped to less than half in a heartbeat.
Seeing this, Warner burst into arrogant laughter. After losing over half his Deck, he finally had the chance to strike Morgan directly.
"Ha ha ha! Weren't you so smug, kid? How about now?"
"Keep milling my Deck, then! Let's see which hits zero first—your Life Points or my Deck!"
At his taunt, the crowd erupted again. Those who knew Morgan wore sympathetic looks for Warner. To grab a tiny advantage and then taunt Morgan—he must have a death wish.
"Is he insane? Taunting Morgan? Does he want to lose harder?"
"He probably thinks he's ahead. But if you ever 'get ahead' against Morgan, that's exactly when you should be the most afraid."
"Exactly. He has no idea what kind of tidal-wave counterattack is coming."
"Another psyche about to crack. Honestly, ever since Morgan entered the Senior Division, the counseling office hasn't had a quiet day."
Through the haze, Morgan's figure gradually emerged. She patted the dust from her clothes; the pleats of her skirt fluttered in the shockwave, revealing long, pale legs. Her expression stayed cool, seemingly unmoved by the heavy damage. Anyhow, to her, the Runick deck truly was boring.
A real duel should be head‑to‑head to feel the fun. A deck that simply shaves the opponent's Deck and avoids combat didn't suit her.
Barring surprises, this would be her last time piloting it.
She didn't mind using Warner as its curtain call.
"Heh. Let's see what you've got now."
"Turn end!"
Warner ended sprightly. He didn't realize that, to everyone else, the duel's countdown had already begun.
Even Jade could see it: the board Warner built offered virtually no pressure—just slightly above‑average Attack.
After all, Yu‑Gi‑Oh! had long since moved past 'Axe Raider trades.' Blindly piling on Attack meant nothing now.
"Why is he so ordinary, yet so arrogant?"
Jade's mutter happened to reach Warner's ears. A vein throbbed on his forehead as he swung a glare toward her—but before he could bark, Morgan had already begun her turn.
"My turn—draw!"
She snapped up a card. Her plan was obvious: re-establish the Field Spell, recycle her Graveyard resources, and begin a new round of milling.
Huginn wasn't needed anymore. Even searching Runick Fountain with her effect would only go minus one, and she had nothing left to trigger Fountain right away anyway.
However, Runick Allure was still up. Her milling tools remained lethal.
"I activate the Quick‑Play Spell Runick Tip from my hand!"
"Add one 'Runick' card from your Deck to your hand, except 'Runick Tip.' Then banish the top card of your opponent's Deck."
"I add Runick Fountain to my hand!"
Warner's smile vanished. He realized he'd been careless. Morgan's deck was all Spells—getting the Field Spell back was trivial.
He glanced at his Deck. Barely more than a sliver remained. All he could do now was pray she couldn't finish him this turn; then on his next turn, Pile Armed Dragon would end it.
A bead of cold sweat slid down his brow. He'd thought the Academy's tournament would be a wolf among sheep. He hadn't expected his first match to be this nerve‑wracking.
"I activate the Field Spell—Runick Fountain!"
The demonic statue reappeared, clear water welling beneath it. With this card, Morgan could recycle up to three Quick‑Play Runick Spells from her Graveyard.
And because she'd already activated a Quick‑Play Spell, Warner banished two more cards in total, which only frayed his nerves further.
"I activate the Quick‑Play Spell Runick Smiting Storm from my hand!"
"After this card resolves, skip your next Battle Phase."
"Banish cards from the top of your opponent's Deck up to the number of cards they control."
Warner had three cards on the field. With Runick Allure, that meant four cards banished.
Jaw clenched, he watched his Deck shrink again, a wave of helplessness rolling through him.
What kind of Underworld line is this…?
He couldn't even stop it.
After a moment's hesitation, he banished four more—and knew it was only the beginning.
"By Runick Fountain's effect!"
"When you activate a 'Runick' Quick‑Play Spell: target up to three 'Runick' Quick‑Play Spells in your Graveyard; place them on the bottom of your Deck in any order, then draw the same number of cards."
Morgan tucked three back and drew three—all green.
She smiled the moment she saw them.
Warner's heart sank.
"I continue—Quick‑Play Spell: Runick Destruction!"
"Target one Spell/Trap your opponent controls; destroy it. Then banish the top four cards of your opponent's Deck."
"I destroy your Armed Dragon Lightning!"
Four cards banished?
While he reeled, Armed Dragon Lightning shattered, and Pile Armed Dragon lost its boost—its Attack returning to normal.
Warner banished five cards total. Now only a paper‑thin stack remained in his Deck slot.
The spectators fell quiet. Even they couldn't stomach this much milling. Morgan really was an Underworld fiend.
"I've still got two cards in hand. How many are left in your Deck?"
Morgan eyed him teasingly—and, before he could answer, continued:
"I activate the Quick‑Play Spell Runick Golden Droplet!"
"Your opponent draws one card, then banishes the top four cards of their Deck."
'Five more!'
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Her line was like carving flesh—this stroke sliced off a huge chunk. Warner visibly went pale. Draw one, banish four—plus one from Runick Allure. How thick did a Deck need to be to survive that?
Mechanically, he banished the cards. The swagger from moments ago was gone.
"I activate the Quick‑Play Spell Runick Freezing Curses!"
"Target one Effect Monster your opponent controls; its effects are negated until the end of this turn. Then banish the top three cards of your opponent's Deck."
Boom—!
Pile Armed Dragon was destroyed again, and Warner reached for his Deck on reflex.
One card. Two…
His fingers found nothing. The Deck was empty.
He sank to the floor, vacant‑eyed. This duel had slipped beyond his understanding—and his view of dueling had shifted, if only a little.
"My turn ends."
Morgan ended with an empty hand. Next turn, Warner would be unable to draw. She had already won.
"My turn…"
Warner's will broke. He bolted, sprinting off into the distance. His pro‑duelist career would likely change after today.
Just as Morgan turned to leave, a man in a sleeveless black leather vest shouldered through the crowd and stopped before her.
"Lovely lady, would you duel me next?"
"I could tell Warner bored you—but a duel with me will satisfy you."
Morgan gave him a wordless once‑over. She had no idea who this easily‑misunderstood talker was.
Milo, however, was surprised. He knew him: the Frontline Club's ace—Zack. Very strong.
He hadn't expected even a club ace to join the Hunting Duel. Despite the black leather, Zack's short blond hair gave him a surprisingly sunny look. One by one, people in the crowd recognized him, exclaiming.
And Zack was right—Morgan hadn't been satisfied by the last duel.
Besides, she never refused a duel invitation. She swapped out the dull Runick deck for another and smiled.
"Don't disappoint me."
...
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