Chang Xingge wasn't deaf — and she certainly didn't think she was stronger than You Ye.
After hearing Wang Cheng and Luo Hao's conversation, she paused to think carefully.
She knew from the records that Luo Hao had lost to Mu Ning before,
but she hadn't seen the duel herself, and she didn't understand how the Runick cards truly worked.
After nearly ten seconds of thought and no better plan, she drew her card decisively.
Even if she didn't understand You Ye's setup or his Runick engine perfectly — did it really matter?
It did, of course. But no matter how strong his setup was, no matter how skilled he was…
She was still a duelist.
And a duelist's purpose was simple — to win.
"I'll go straight into Main Phase One — any objections?" she asked, taking a deep breath.
"Please," You Ye replied calmly, gesturing with an open hand.
"Since I control no face-up cards,
I activate the Normal Spell Lightning Storm!
I choose to destroy all of your Spells and Traps!"
The instant her turn began, Chang Xingge slammed down one of the most infamous board wipes of the previous era.
You Ye raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised — but his hand moved without hesitation.
"Field Spell Runick Fountain allows me to activate Runick Quick-Play Spells during your turn.
So, I'll Chain 2 —
I target my monster Runick Wings—Mu Ning with the Quick-Play Spell Runick Slumber!
This turn, Mu Ning cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects.
And the top three cards of your Deck are banished!"
Chain Resolution:
Chain 2 – Runick Slumber: resolves successfully; Mu Ning gains protection.
Chain 1 – Lightning Storm: destroys all of You Ye's face-up Spells and Traps.
"Trying to keep your monster alive?"
Chang Xingge muttered, a faint smile forming on her lips.
"Saving her to recover LP later, huh?"
Keeping the monster alive was fine —
But if he wanted to heal using Mu Ning's effect,
He'd have to see whether her Monarch agreed to that!
She didn't notice it then — but the moment that smile appeared on her face,
You Ye, Mu Ning, and even the two spectators all exchanged faintly knowing looks,
as though watching a play they already knew the ending to.
"I Normal Summon Knight of the Heavenly Sky, Parshath!
Then I use him as material to Link Summon — Link-1: Imduk the Parshath Magistus!"
"Since a monster was Link Summoned,
I activate the effect of Parallel eXceed in my hand!
When a Link Summon is performed,
I can Special Summon this card to a zone that Link Monster points to!
Come forth — Parallel eXceed!
Then, its third effect activates —
Its Level becomes 4!"
"When a monster is Special Summoned to Imduk's linked zone,
Imduk's effect activates —
I can add one 'Parshath' monster from my Deck to my hand.
Chain 2 — Parallel eXceed's effect:
When it's Summoned, I can Special Summon another Parallel eXceed from my Deck!"
Resolution:
Chain 2: Special Summon another Parallel eXceed.
Chain 1: Add Parshath of the Stars from the Deck to hand.
"I use the first Parallel eXceed and Imduk as material!
Link arrows up and down —
Link Summon Link-2: Parshath, the Lion King!"
"All lower-level Parshath monsters share a common effect —
They can Special Summon themselves in Defense Position to a Link Zone a Parshath points to!
So I Special Summon Parshath of the Stars in Defense Position to Lion King's Link zone!"
"When a monster is Special Summoned to his zone,
The Lion King's third effect activates —
I can add one 'Parshath' Spell from my Deck to my hand.
Chain 2: Parshath of the Stars —
When this card is Summoned to a Link Zone,
I can target a 'Heavenly Sky' in my Graveyard and add it to my hand!"
Resolution:
Chain 2: Add Knight of the Heavenly Sky, Parshath from Graveyard to hand.
Chain 1: Add Field Spell Parshath Assembly of the Sky from the Deck to hand.
"I now use the remaining Parallel eXceed and my Link-2 Lion King as material!
Link Arrows up — Link Summon Link-3: Parshath, the Great Monarch!"
As the card slammed into her Duel Disk, a towering centaur over three meters tall materialized on the field.
Its armored upper body gleamed blue under the Duel Room's light,
a massive sword raised high as it glared down at You Ye.
You Ye, however, only smiled faintly.
She'd gotten this far thanks to that Lightning Storm, sure —
But she was following the same textbook combo line he remembered.
If she'd deviated even slightly, she might've had a chance.
But now? The moment she went formulaic — she'd already lost her window.
Still, Chang Xingge pressed on, not noticing the faint amusement in his eyes.
"I Special Summon in Defense Position to the Great Monarch's Link zones
my Knight of the Heavenly Sky and Parshath of the Hundred Beasts!
The Great Monarch's continuous effect increases the ATK of all monsters it points to!"
"Then I target the Great Monarch with both my Knights' effects!
The Heavenly Sky grants him double battle damage this turn,
and the Hundred Beasts grants him piercing battle damage!"
"Finally, I activate Field Spell Parshath Assembly of the Sky,
boosting the Great Monarch's ATK by 500!"
Parshath, the Great Monarch – ATK: 2000 → 5300!
"Battle Phase!" she shouted.
"My Great Monarch attacks your Mu Ning!"
The centaur roared forward, blade flashing,
slicing down in a brilliant arc aimed to cleave Mu Ning in two —
but a flash of white light flared,
and the sword rebounded harmlessly off a shimmering barrier.
Chang Xingge's expression didn't falter.
"Mu Ning's protected by Runick Slumber — fine.
But your LP isn't protected, Senior!
Take the piercing damage from my Monarch!"
You Ye LP: 9000 → 2400!
Seeing his Life Points drop below 3000, Chang Xingge exhaled slowly.
She hadn't managed the OTK, but this was good enough.
What she feared most wasn't his monsters — it was his hand traps.
She'd done her job: reduce him as much as possible before he could react.
There wouldn't be another opening like this.
"I'll end my turn," she said, after glancing briefly at her remaining cards.
"Wait," You Ye interrupted softly.
"At your End Phase, Mu Ning's effect activates —
I recovered 1000 LP."
He looked at her calmly.
Chang Xingge caught his eyes — and froze.
He was asking, without words: Will you chain?
Something about the situation felt off.
Very off.
The Runick archetype that had defeated a Minister-level duelist shouldn't have seemed this mild.
And the entire duel… had moved exactly according to her rhythm, not his.
It was unnatural — like she was the veteran and he was the novice.
After half a minute of tense silence, she made her decision.
No matter how strange it felt, she couldn't let him recover LP now.
"I'll Chain 2 to Mu Ning's effect!"
"I Tribute my Heavenly Sky Parshath,
and activate the Great Monarch's third effect —
I target your Mu Ning,
and negate her effects!"
As her words fell,
the Great Monarch raised his blade toward the ceiling.
Chains of golden light rained down,
wrapping tightly around Mu Ning's slender form.
"You… targeted Mu Ning, didn't you?"
You Ye's lips curved into a slow, wicked grin.
Chang Xingge's eyes widened.
"Crap…"
She understood instantly.
She'd been baited.
But it was too late — this was an official duel.
There were no take-backs.
Now, all she could do was watch how You Ye would punish her mistake.
"I'll Chain 3 — Mu Ning's second effect!"
"When a Spell, Trap, or monster effect activated by your opponent targets
a 'Runick' card I control —
I can banish this card from the field to negate that activation and destroy it!"
At You Ye's command,
Mu Ning's form dissolved into streaks of dark feathers,
which spun through the air like blades,
Piercing straight toward the Great Monarch with a sound like shattering sky.