[Vampire Fraulein, DEF 2000]
Trueman's brows knit slightly. "Another weak little trash monster to act as a wall. King Kong can crush that in one punch.
Break that vampire!"
Vampire Fraulein glanced toward Kira. Kira merely smiled. "It's fine. I won't let you leave that easily."
He slowly raised his right arm.
Excitement flashed in Vampire Fraulein's eyes. She drifted over eagerly, bared her small fangs, and bit into Kira's arm.
Trueman looked strange. "What?"
"The effect of Vampire Fraulein: when your Zombie-Type monster battles an opponent's monster, you can pay Life Points in multiples of 100 to increase the ATK/DEF of the monster being attacked."
Kira chuckled lightly.
"With the master's blood, she can become stronger. I pay 1000 LP to increase Vampire Fraulein's DEF by 1000."
[Kira LP 3200 → 2200]
[Vampire Fraulein DEF 2000 → 3000]
Nourished by blood, Vampire Fraulein's aura surged. She twirled her parasol open; King Kong's punch, carrying countless rock shards, crashed into it. Yet the tiny black parasol held firm—not even trembling.
Because she was in Defense Position, no matter how high her DEF went she couldn't reflect and destroy King Kong, so raising her to 3000 DEF was enough to hold. There was no need to waste more blood.
But the buff only lasted until the end of damage calculation; after blocking the blow, her DEF would immediately return to normal.
Trueman said in a low voice: "There's still a second shot.
Double Attack lets Primineral Kongreat attack twice this turn.
Go—second attack!"
The huge, jet-black King Kong threw its second punch, again locking onto Vampire Fraulein.
Kira generously raised his arm again. "I pay another 1000 LP to raise her DEF by 1000."
[Kira LP 2200 → 1200]
[Vampire Fraulein DEF 2000 → 3000]
Vampire Fraulein was delighted and took another happy sip. Blood energy clung like a crimson mist to her parasol. King Kong's fist landed—still not the slightest movement.
After the hit, Vampire Fraulein looked thoroughly satisfied; her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. "Thank you for the treat."
"Tch. Fine. I set one card. End my turn," Trueman said with a snort.
Vampire Fraulein's effect was a monster effect, so even Anti-Magic Arrows couldn't stop it. And from the look of it, she was the kind of sturdy shield that could remain on the field as long as Kira kept paying blood—two punches, three punches, she could take them.
But as a result, Kira's Life Points were down to 1200.
"With your LP, you can only pay for that vampire one more time at most," Trueman said coldly. "How long can you survive by trading blood like that?"
"Yeah, put that way it does sound a bit troublesome," Kira said. "If this keeps up I'll run out of LP—this is bad."
Trueman showed a pleased expression.
But he only enjoyed it for two seconds before he heard Kira say:
"No choice, then. I'll just finish you this turn."
Trueman's smile vanished.
"What did you say?"
He frowned and examined Kira, clearly not believing it.
"My Life Points are still a full 4000. Up to now you haven't even touched me once," Trueman said. "You think you can kill me in one turn?"
"That's why I said your 'style points' are lacking. LP is smoke—what difference does a little more or less make? This turn I'll teach you that simplest truth."
Kira said:
"My turn. Draw.
I activate the Field Spell 'Black Garden'."
A Plant-exclusive Field Spell—black vines coiled everywhere, and the surroundings became a dark garden wrapped in unknown plants.
"In Black Garden, each time either of us summons a monster, that monster's ATK is halved.
Also, a 'Rose Token' must be Special Summoned to the opponent's field."
Kira Normal Summoned a monster from his hand.
"I Normal Summon 'King Tiger Wanghu' in Attack Position."
[King Tiger Wanghu, ATK 1700 → 850] (halved by Black Garden)
"Because I summoned a monster, Black Garden Special Summons 1 Rose Token to your field."
[Rose Token, ATK 800]
Trueman looked at the Token appearing on his field with disgust.
"What is this now?"
"King Tiger Wanghu's effect: while King Tiger Wanghu is on the field, whenever a monster with 1400 ATK or less is Summoned, destroy that monster."
Kira snapped his fingers.
"The Rose Token has 1400 ATK or less, so it's destroyed."
Trueman watched in confusion as the rose—barely on the field—blew up before it could even stand.
"What's the point of that?"
"Because a Plant-Type monster was destroyed, my Continuous Spell The World Tree gains 1 Flower Counter."
Trueman seemed to realize something. "So you went through all that just for one counter?"
"One?" Kira smiled.
"No, that's not right.
Next, I activate my set card—Continuous Trap 'Limit Reverse', Special Summoning a monster with 1000 or less ATK from my Graveyard.
I Special Summon 'Dandylion' from my Graveyard!"
[Dandylion, ATK 300 → 150]
A custom card designed by Jaden. The monster itself was weak, so it wasn't difficult to replicate, but its ability was extremely useful—so Kira had copied one early.
"Black Garden's effect: Special Summon a Rose Token to your field."
[Rose Token, ATK 800]
Trueman said: "But both monsters have 1500 ATK or less, so King Tiger Wanghu's effect will destroy them."
Kira smiled. "Correct—both will be destroyed. But Dandylion is also Plant-Type. So two Plant-Type monsters are destroyed, and The World Tree gains two more Flower Counters."
[The World Tree — Flower Counters: 4]
"Then Dandylion's effect: if this card is sent to the Graveyard, Special Summon two 'Fluff Tokens' to your field," Kira said.
[Fluff Token, DEF 0] ×2
Kira continued: "Black Garden's effect: whenever a monster is Summoned, Special Summon a Rose Token to the opponent's field.
However, although I summoned two Fluff Tokens, they were summoned simultaneously, which counts as a single Summon action. So only one Rose Token is Special Summoned to your field."
[Rose Token, ATK 800]
"Of course, all three monsters have 1400 ATK or less," Kira snapped his fingers. "King Tiger Wanghu's effect—destroy them all."
Trueman's expression changed. "All three are Plant-Type…"
"Right. But same logic as before: because the two Fluff Tokens were summoned simultaneously, they are also destroyed simultaneously by King Tiger Wanghu. When resolving The World Tree, that only counts as one instance of Plant-Type monster destruction.
So even though three monsters were destroyed, The World Tree only gains one counter from the Fluff Tokens, and one from the Rose Token—two more in total."
[The World Tree — Flower Counters: 6]
At this point, all preparations were complete; the victory equation had silently come together.
Some people were already dead—they just hadn't realized it yet.