"I choose the first effect—I choose to destroy all monsters you control!!"
The assassin swept her hand coldly. "Go, Reign-Beaux. Show this little noble girl your true power—Demon God Thunderstorm!!"
"Damn it!" Alice grit her teeth. "I activate my Set Quick-Play Spell Sinful Spoils of Doom - Rciela. Target 1 face-up Level 7 or higher Spellcaster monster I control; that monster is unaffected by other monsters' effects this turn, then during the next Standby Phase, send it to the Graveyard.
"I target my Diabellstar the Black Witch and make her unaffected by other monsters' effects this turn!"
The next moment, a blood-red scythe shaped like bat wings dissolved into the phantom of a white-haired girl. She wore a crimson dress, four blood-red bat wings spreading behind her; her pure white hair was stained red from the tips upward.
She shielded Diabellstar, blocking the golden thunderstorm—yet, the other three monsters Alice controlled were reduced to ash in that blast.
"So you want to trigger Diabellstar's effect again?" The assassin narrowed her eyes. She had guessed Alice's intention right away.
Because this was a "Chaos Battle Mode," even Alicia's turn still counted as "the opponent's turn" for Alice.
Meaning: once Rciela's protection ended, and Diabellstar was sent to the Graveyard during Alicia's turn—Alice could activate Diabellstar's effect again, Special Summon her back, and Set yet another Sinful Spoils card from the Deck, achieving continuous advantage.
Although she guessed Alice's plan, the assassin checked her hand and realized she had nothing left to counter it.
She drew two cards and spoke: "I Set three cards and end my turn! And at this instant, Into the Void's lingering effect activates. At the End Phase, I discard my entire hand."
She tossed a card into the Graveyard, then said a name that made Yuui's eyes widen.
"Then, I activate the effect of the Darkuriboh I just discarded. When this card is sent to the Graveyard by a card effect from the hand, add 1 Polymerization from your Deck or Graveyard to your hand.
"I choose to add Polymerization from my Deck!"
A Kuriboh covered in ominous demonic energy appeared beside the assassin, holding out a card to her.
"Holy crap, Kuriboh even has a Dark World form!?"
Yuui stared, shocked at the malevolent-looking Kuriboh. Its effect was actually quite compatible with his Fallen of Albaz.
As he was thinking that, Alice snapped coldly, "Stop spacing out. It's your turn!"
Yuui then noticed Alicia still hadn't taken her turn.
"Huh…!?"
Approaching her, he saw her blank, unfocused eyes; no fighting spirit left.
"Shoot. I knew I shouldn't have let Alicia interact with that woman."
Yuui understood then. Alicia's solitary childhood, her identity as a Nameless One, and her lack of true companions; Yuui was more like family, even a father figure.
So when she finally found someone her age—a friend—in Alice, she had been nervous, excited… and devastated when they were forced apart.
And now, only two days later—far too soon for emotional wounds to heal—Alice had casually said:
"She and I are not friends. She was nothing more than a toy I once used to pass the time."
Those words crushed the friendship Alicia treasured and ripped open her barely-healed trauma—leaving her mentally retreating, shutting down entirely.
"…Fine then."
Without a second thought, Yuui forcibly seized control of Alicia's body. Her small spirit curled up beside him, confirming his fears… she had truly shut down.
His crimson eyes fixed on Alice as he said coldly, "You will pay for what you said."
Across from him, Alice noticed Alicia's eyes turning crimson again and the chilling voice returning. She realized that the one calling himself the founder of Duel Cards had taken control once more.
As for his intention to "make her pay," she already knew what he meant—and did not deny it. To her, Alicia had been nothing more than a toy.
She had owned many toys like her. Alicia was simply the latest.
Now that this toy was no longer usable, she felt no remorse; nor would she ever.
The assassin watched Alicia's aura shift violently and thought, Infighting, huh?
Yuui raised his hand and shouted: "My turn—draw!!"
Just then, Alice said coldly, "During the Standby Phase, Sinful Spoils of Doom - Rciela's lingering effect resolves—Diabellstar the Black Witch is sent to the Graveyard.
"Then I activate Diabellstar the Black Witch's effect. If this card is sent from the hand or field to the Graveyard during the opponent's turn, send 1 card from your hand or field to the Graveyard; Special Summon this card.
"I send a card from my hand to the Graveyard and Special Summon Diabellstar the Black Witch again."
[Diabellstar the Black Witch, ATK 2500]
"Then Diabellstar the Black Witch's effect activates again. When this card is Normal or Special Summoned, Set 1 Sinful Spoils Spell/Trap from your Deck.
"I Set the Quick-Play Spell WANTED: Seeker of Sinful Spoils."
"Next, I activate my Trap Card The Forces of Darkness," the assassin said. "Target 2 Dark World monsters in your Graveyard and add them to your hand.
"I choose Snoww, Unlight of Dark World and Parl, Hermit of Dark World!"
"Back to adding Parl again, huh…" Alice's brows knitted as she drew the card she wanted from her Deck.
Then Yuui, who until now had taken no actions on his turn, finally spoke. His voice carried the heat of molten rock, as though ready to burn everything away.
"Are you done with your plays? Then, it's my turn now."
...
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