"So this is why you came behind the girls' dorm in the middle of the night?"
Alexis stood behind the Obelisk Blue Girls' Dorm with two other girls beside her, staring at Youmi. Nearby was one very unfortunate Syrus, hands tied together.
"Ahaha… I was just a little worried Jaden might show up and something weird might happen~"
Scratching the back of his head and trying to change the subject, Youmi shifted his gaze—only to spot Professor Crowler in full scuba gear, his head poking out of the water looking absolutely suspicious.
Certain that Crowler wouldn't pull such a malicious prank, Alexis rested her chin on one hand, thought for a moment, then said, "I'd never write a love letter like that. Someone must be trying to frame Jaden and used Professor Crowler for it. Still, even if that's the case, the fact remains: you came to the girls' dorm this late at night. I can't just let you walk away so easily~"
On her arm was a Duel Disk. The meaning was obvious.
"Ah, since we're both Duel Academy students, let's solve it through a duel, right?"
As a duelist, Youmi naturally carried his Duel Disk everywhere. He slid his newly adjusted Deck into place, then looked at Alexis with a confident smile. "And thanks for giving me such an easy chance to take Syrus back, Alexis."
Alexis blinked, then realized Youmi was thanking her because he assumed he'd win. She quickly shook her head. "You're talking like you've already won. Start the duel before you say anything else."
"Youmi-nii… thank you…"
Both took their positions and declared the duel.
"DUEL!"
"DUEL!"
Turn.1
"I'm going first. My turn, draw."
Alexis drew a card, nodded slightly; apparently, satisfied with her opening hand.
"I activate Terraforming, adding Ritual Sanctuary from my Deck to my hand, and activate it."
The surroundings shifted into a grand, ornate chapel, music echoing throughout the area. The atmosphere was undeniably fitting for a Ritual Deck.
"I activate Ritual Sanctuary's effect. I discard a Spell Card to add a Ritual Monster or Ritual Spell from my Deck to my hand. I choose Cyber Angel Benten and discard Machine Angel Ritual."
Unlike her first duel with Jaden in the anime, Alexis was using her full Cyber Angel Deck rather than her early-game Cyber Girls.
"Next, I activate Preparation of Rites. I add a Level 7 or lower Ritual Monster from my Deck to my hand, and then I can return a Ritual Spell from my Graveyard. I add Cyber Angel Idaten, then return Machine Angel Ritual to my hand~"
Jaden, who had rushed over, spotted the two cards in her hand from afar and muttered, "She already pulled both the Ritual Monster and the Ritual Spell that fast… don't tell me—"
"Exactly that. Time to start the ritual!"
Alexis slapped Machine Angel Ritual onto her Duel Disk.
"I activate the Ritual Spell Machine Angel Ritual! I Tribute Cyber Angel Benten from my hand, whose total Levels meet or exceed the monster I'm summoning, to Ritual Summon Cyber Angel Idaten in Defense Position!"
A ceremonial altar appeared at the center of the chapel, and from the sacred fire, the Cyber Angel descended.
Glancing at Jaden, Youmi sighed, "Eh? Jaden, you actually came… did someone call you?"
Jaden nodded. "Yeah! Someone called, saying Syrus was captured and I should hurry or he'd be in danger! Since he calls me 'big bro,' I couldn't just ignore him, hehe. Anyways… what's going on? Why are you dueling without me?"
"Don't interrupt my duel! Benten and Idaten's effects now activate! When Cyber Angel Idaten is Ritual Summoned, I add a Ritual Spell from my Deck or Graveyard to my hand. I add Machine Angel Ritual."
"Uh, shutting up now."
Alexis's Duel Disk ejected the Ritual Spell, and she displayed it to Youmi before adding it to her hand.
"Next, Cyber Angel Benten's effect activates. When it's Tributed, I add one LIGHT Fairy monster from my Deck to my hand. I add another Cyber Angel Benten. Then I conduct another Ritual Summon—this time Tributing the Idaten on my field to Ritual Summon Benten in Attack Position!"
After resolving Idaten's effect, Alexis reviewed her hand again, Set two cards, and ended her turn.
"Cyber Angel Idaten's effect activates when Tributed—my Ritual Monsters gain 1000 Attack and Defense. Benten's original stats are 1800/1500. With the bonus, they become 2800/2500. I Set two cards and end my turn."
Turn.2
"A 2800 Attack monster… and two face-downs. My turn, draw."
Youmi drew and frowned briefly when he saw the card.
He paused for a moment. "I Normal Summon Fallen of Albaz. Unless you're planning to activate something like Solemn Judgment, I'll continue. I discard Screams of the Branded to activate Albaz's effect—Fusion Summoning using itself and one of your monsters as Fusion Materials by surpassing both sides and merging into one!"
"Fusion surpassing both sides…? That sounds familiar—ugh, my head…"
Hearing Youmi's explanation, Jaden seized up, then clutched his head in sudden pain.
Although her first reaction was astonishment at Albaz's unusual effect, Alexis at once noticed the similarity between Albaz and Youmi. "A monster that fuses with my monsters? And Fallen of Albaz… why does it look so much like you, Youmi…?"
Comparing him to Youmi during the practical exam, the only real difference was whether both eyes were fully open.
Waving a finger, Youmi said, "There are always strange monsters in the world; it's not unusual. So, Alexis, if you have no response, I'll be taking your Cyber Angel Benten for Fusion~"
Although Albaz alone put her in a tight spot, Alexis still had to respond. Her face-down flipped up, and Benten burst into particles of light.
"I won't let you! I activate Painful Escape! I Tribute one monster I control, then add a monster from my Deck or Graveyard with the same Attribute, Type, and Level but a different name. I add my second Idaten from the Deck, then Benten's effect activates, adding my third Cyber Angel Benten to my hand."
Showing both cards to Youmi, Alexis pointed toward Albaz.
"My field is empty now. Albaz's Fusion effect can't resolve. Well? Want to attack?"
Youmi shook his head, still smiling.
"No rush, the duel's just getting started. I activate Nadir Servant from my hand. I send one monster from my—ahem—Extra Deck to the Graveyard, then add from my Deck or Graveyard a Dogmatika monster or Fallen of Albaz with lower Attack.
"I send—ahem—Brigrand the Glory Dragon from my Extra Deck and add Dogmatika Fleurdelis, the Knighted, to my hand. Then I go to the Battle Phase."
Youmi did indeed own several Dogmatika cards—Fleurdelis, Maximus, Punishment, Encounter—apparently because of their connection with Albaz. And because Fleurdelis and the others had alternate forms, Youmi carried all variations.
"I attack you directly with Fallen of Albaz."
The white-haired dragon boy lunged forward, and though his humanoid form wasn't made for combat, he still managed to throw a punch.
Already prepared, Alexis flipped her face-down. "I activate Counter Gate! When your opponent declares a direct attack, negate that attack and draw one card. If it's a monster, I can Normal Summon it in Attack Position."
She drew—and immediately slammed the drawn monster onto the field.
"Because of Counter Gate, I Normal Summon Cyber Egg Angel! When this card is Normal, Flip, or Special Summoned, I add a Machine Angel Spell or Ritual Sanctuary from my Deck to my hand. I add Machine Angel Absolute Ritual."
Fallen of Albaz halted before the newly appeared monster, then returned casually to Youmi's side.
"Whoa… Counter Gate into Cyber Egg Angel, and she searched Machine Angel Absolute Ritual… next turn's going to hurt." Youmi entered Main Phase 2 and Set two cards. "I Set two and end my turn."
"During the End Phase, Screams of the Branded, which was discarded for Albaz's effect, Sets itself from the Graveyard due to its effect.
"And Brigrand the Glory Dragon, which was sent to the Graveyard, adds or Special Summons a Dogmatika monster or Fallen of Albaz from the Deck. I Special Summon Dogmatika Ecclesia, the Virtuous. When Ecclesia is Summoned or Special Summoned, I add Dogmatika Punishment from my Deck to my hand. Turn end."
...
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