"Looks like I'm taking the first turn. My turn, draw~"
According to the system's assignment, Darklord Ixchel took the first turn.
"I activate my own effect—Darklord Ixchel! I discard this card and one Darklord card from my hand to activate it. I draw two cards~"
As her opening move, Ixchel proudly showed a Darklord card from her hand and discarded it along with herself to the Graveyard. "The other Darklord I sent to the Graveyard is Darklord Superbia And thanks to Ixchel's effect, I draw two cards from my Deck"
After drawing her two cards, Ixchel immediately played a Spell Card.
"Next, I activate Trade-In. I discard a second Superbia to draw two more cards.
"Ah, this is a great card~ I activate Darklord Contact to Special Summon Darklord Superbia from my Graveyard in Defense Position!"
The very card she had just drawn was activated on the spot, and a Level 8 Darklord materialized on her field. "Superbia has the effect: when it is Special Summoned from the Graveyard, I can Special Summon a Darklord monster from my Graveyard except a copy of Superbia. So I Special Summon myself—Darklord Ixchel~"
The Ixchel who had been dumped into the Graveyard only minutes earlier now returned to the field. As both a monster and the duelist controlling the field, Ixchel winked at Professor Crowler, flustering him in a heartbeat.
"Okay, okay~ I'll stop teasing you. I activate Banishment of the Darklords to add Tezcatlipoca to my hand.
"Next is Darklord Nasten's effect—I discard two Darklord cards to Special Summon it. I discard Indulged Darklord and Darklord Asmodeus to Special Summon it~"
With yet another Darklord appearing, Ixchel activated her other effect. "Now I activate my second effect. I pay 1000 LP and target one Darklord Spell/Trap in my Graveyard. I apply that card's effect, then shuffle it back into the Deck. I choose Darklord Contact~"
[Darklord Ixchel, LP: 4000 → 3000]
Professor Crowler looked at the revived Ixchel in front of him, already realizing her intent. "Darklord Contact… and there's a second Superbia in the Graveyard. I see… you're planning to flood the field with high ATK and DEF monsters using this loop, aren't you?"
"Unfortunately for me, while Ixchel copies Darklord Contact's effect first, its effect to return to the Deck afterward will make Superbia miss the timing~ So instead, I Special Summon the Indulged Darklord I sent earlier."
A one-winged Darklord woman appeared. "Then Indulged Darklord's effect activates—when this card is Summoned or Special Summoned, I send a Darklord card from my Deck to the Graveyard. I send Darklord Marie."
Ixchel flicked another one-winged Darklord toward Professor Crowler.
"I Special Summon Capricious Darklord to your field in Defense Position, and add Darklord Amdusc to my hand. Then I Tribute Summon! I Tribute Superbia and Indulged Darklord to Tribute Summon my ally—he who heralds the dawn, Darklord Morningstar!"
Purple, black, and white light flooded the ruined dorm's halls as countless black feathers scattered. From the sacrificial offering emerged a handsome white-haired Darklord, standing proudly as he gazed down at his opponent.
"Whoa, with that many feathers shed, won't he go bald?"
Jaden delivered a brutally honest comment.
Darklord Morningstar's grip on his weapon visibly tightened.
"My radiant ally looks stunning today, as always~"
Ixchel shook her head dramatically, wiping away imaginary drool, then activated Morningstar's effect. "I activate Darklord Morningstar's effect. When this card is Tribute Summoned, I can Special Summon Darklord monsters from my hand or Deck up to the number of Effect Monsters you control.
"Since you have one, I Special Summon Darklord Nasten from my Deck! Both Nasten and Darklord Morningstar have effects similar to mine—here, I activate Amdusc's effect! I pay 1000 LP and target Banishment of the Darklords. I shuffle it into the Deck to add Darklord Rebellion to my hand~"
[Darklord Ixchel, LP: 3000 → 2000]
"Next, I activate Morningstar's other effect. Once per turn, during my Main Phase, I send cards from the top of my Deck to the Graveyard equal to the number of Darklord monsters I control.
"Then I gain LP equal to 500 × the number of Darklord cards sent. I control four Darklord monsters, so I mill four cards. Of the four, three are Darklord cards—Darklord Desire, Darklord Marie, and Darklord Zerato. So I gain 1500 LP! I Set three cards and end my turn~"
[Darklord Ixchel, LP: 2000 → 3500]
Turn.2
"Four monsters on the field… 3500 LP… and three Set cards… That's…"
Though his heart trembled, Professor Crowler had already resolved to protect his students, so he would not show fear here. "My turn, draw! Let me show you the power of my Deck-now-nay!
"I activate Ancient Gear Fortress and Geartown! Because of Geartown's effect, as long as it's in the Field Zone, both players need one fewer Tribute to Tribute Summon Ancient Gear monsters. I Tribute the Capricious Darklord on my field to Tribute Summon Ancient Gear Golem - Ultimate Pound!"
"Capricious Darklord's effect activates! When this card is sent to the Graveyard, all your monsters lose ATK/DEF equal to 500 × the number of Fairy monsters on the field until the end of the turn!"
Professor Crowler's ace monster appeared, this time wearing a slightly different form, but still ready to smash everything in sight.
Even though its Attack had decreased from Nurse Reficule's effect, Crowler still continued his play, though he was puzzled at how lifelike the Duel Monsters had become. "Next, I activate Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Geartown!"
Ixchel scratched her head. "Why destroy your own Spell? Is there a floating effect on it?"
"Geartown's effect activates when destroyed! I Special Summon an Ancient Gear monster from my Deck! I Special Summon Ancient Gear Wyvern and use its effect to add Ancient Gear Fusion from my Deck to my hand!
"Then—I activate Ancient Gear Fusion! Its effect lets me send the Fusion Materials listed on an Ancient Gear Fusion Monster from my hand or field to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon it. But if I use Ancient Gear Golem or Ancient Gear Golem - Ultimate Pound as Fusion Material, I can use monsters from my Deck as materials!"
Just then, Ixchel's eyes lit up, and she flipped a Set card.
"Then I chain and activate Darklord Rebellion! I send a Darklord from my hand or face-up field to the Graveyard to target and destroy one card on the field! I send a Darklord from my hand as cost and choose that hideous Ancient Gear Golem - Ultimate Pound—Huh?"
Darklord Rebellion did not activate successfully—it simply remained there as if it failed to meet its timing.
"It's useless. Because of Ancient Gear Fortress, your opponent cannot activate monster effects or Spell/Trap effects in response to the activation of Ancient Gear cards. Ancient Gear Fusion resolves. I send Ancient Gear Golem - Ultimate Pound on my field, Ancient Gear Golem, Ancient Gear Reactor Dragon, and another Ultimate Pound from my Deck to the Graveyard to Fusion Summon my new ace monster—"
A strange, ominous purple light flared around Professor Crowler, seemingly influenced by the dark energy permeating the old dorm. Even the card he was about to place onto his Duel Disk began to distort.
"W-What is…?" Strange words surfaced in his mind. Crowler glanced at his hand in shock—then shouted the incantation regardless.
"Inherited from ancient souls, o giants of iron and mechanical beasts! Combine your primordial might and become an overwhelming, chaotic force-y'know! Fusion Summon! Appear, Level 10! The ultimate destroyer that returns all things to formless chaos—Chaos Ancient Gear Giant!"
A massive vortex of Fusion energy erupted, so powerful it tore apart the barrier erected by the red-haired boy—though not enough to break it fully. Even so, the phenomenon was overwhelming.
Darklord Ixchel frowned, instantly noticing the problem. "Seriously? This card is that annoying? I should've just destroyed it earlier… Hey, where is the monster you summoned…?"
Ixchel looked around, confused that Chaos Ancient Gear Giant was not visible anywhere.
Until—
A colossal mechanical arm smashed through the outer wall of the old dorm, crumbling it into dust. Through the hole glared the glowing, singular eye of Chaos Ancient Gear Giant.
"What in the world…!!"
"The monster… turned real?!"
Jaden, utterly unfazed due to his usual lack of caution, was instead amazed by the creature's enormous size. "Professor Crowler, that's amazing!!!"
Crowler covered his face with both hands and screamed as the light around him faded. "Mamma mia!"
The entire Duel Academy shook as if struck by an earthquake. Debris and dust rained down from the collapsing old dorm.
With a single motion from Chaos Ancient Gear Giant, the sealed dormitory entirely crumbled. Fortunately, the monster—perhaps due to some mysterious force—ended up saving them by tossing them out of the building. Ixchel also hurried to escape.
"Yikes! Youmi's still inside!"
Jaden clutched his aching head—Chaos Ancient Gear Giant had thrown him aside, causing him to slam into the ground—but the moment he remembered Youmi had rushed inside alone, he immediately tried to run back.
"Too dangerous, Jaden!"
"Don't go in there, Jaden!"
Both Alexis and Crowler tried to grab him—but only Alexis managed to run forward. Crowler attempted to take a step as well, but an invisible barrier blocked his movement.
"W-What is this?!"
Having gotten back onto her feet, Ixchel activated the Trap she hadn't managed to use earlier right away.
"Don't think you can escape a Shadow Game that easily. Until you defeat me, there's no leaving~ I activate Darklord Rebellion! I send a Darklord card from my hand to the Graveyard to target and destroy that hideous Chaos Ancient Gear Giant!"
Yet, Chaos Ancient Gear Giant didn't react at all. As if it were coated in some natural, idiot-proof immunity barrier.
Professor Crowler glanced at the effect text of "Chaos Ancient Gear Giant" on his Duel Disk and explained: "The effect of 'Chaos Ancient Gear Giant'—as long as this card exists in the Monster Zone, it is unaffected by Spell and Trap effects, and during the Battle Phase, your opponent cannot activate monster effects!"
"Then I activate my other set card, 'Darklord Rebellion'. I can activate it by sending 1 'Darklord' monster from my hand or face-up on my field to the Graveyard.
"I then send the Fusion Material Monsters listed on a DARK Fusion Monster from my hand or field to the Graveyard, and Fusion Summon that Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck.
"After that, I can gain Life Points equal to the Attack of the monster sent to the Graveyard by this card's activation. I send 'Darklord Mastema' from my field to the Graveyard, then fuse 'Darklord Morningstar', 'Darklord Ixchel', and 'Darklord Amdusc' from my field to Fusion Summon 'The First Darklord'!
"When Fusion Summoned using 'Darklord Morningstar' as material, this card can activate its effect. Destroy all cards on your opponent's field!"
[Darklord Ixchel, LP: 3500 → 6100]
"The First Darklord" unleashed a sword strike radiating limitless light, sweeping across Professor Crowler's field—but to her surprise, the Ancient Gear monsters remained thoroughly unharmed.
"Another effect of 'Ancient Gear Fortress'—'Ancient Gear' monsters on my field cannot be targeted or destroyed by your opponent's effects during the turn they are Normal or Special Summoned. Also, if this card in my Spell/Trap Zone is destroyed, I can Special Summon 1 'Ancient Gear' monster from my hand or Graveyard. I Special Summon 'Ancient Gear Reactor Dragon' from my Graveyard!"
"Tch… just a prissy old man, yet pretty capable…"
Darklord Ixchel gritted her teeth at Professor Crowler. Because 'The First Darklord' can only use its (1) or (3) effect once per turn, and because she hadn't cleared 'Ancient Gear Fortress' earlier due to lack of information, she was now stuck in this situation. "If only I'd interacted more with those rusted tin cans back in the Spirit World… No, why is that guy even here?!"
So saying, she suddenly turned her head toward the side, where a red glow flickered in the eerie forest.
Another monster appeared on Professor Crowler's field—'Ancient Gear Reactor Dragon' with 3000 Attack.
"Then I activate the Normal Spell 'Overload Fusion'. I banish the Fusion Materials listed on a DARK Machine Fusion Monster from my field or Graveyard, and Fusion Summon that monster from my Extra Deck y'know! Appear on my field—my second 'Chaos Ancient Gear Giant'!"
He didn't know why his Extra Deck suddenly gained three copies of a monster he had never seen before, but since the card was powerful enough, he could use it to turn the duel around.
"Youmi, Alexis, and that failing student Jaden are still inside the old dorm—I don't have time to waste on you, y'know! I enter the Battle Phase!"
Darklord Ixchel looked at her hand… fully exhausted. Even if she used her remaining set card or Ixchel's effect, she still couldn't survive. All she could do was glare hatefully at Professor Crowler: "I…"
"The 4500-attack 'Chaos Ancient Gear Giant' attacks 'The First Darklord'! Chaos Smash!"
[Darklord Ixchel, LP: 6100 → 5600]
"Now, since I still have another unused 'Chaos Ancient Gear Giant' and 'Ancient Gear Wyvern' on my field, I'll have them attack as well—Chaos Smash!"
After taking several consecutive punches from the Ancient Gear Giants, Darklord Ixchel was sent flying, rolling twice across the ground. She barely managed to lift herself up, glaring at the panicked Professor Crowler as he ran back into the old dorm.
Then she looked up at the red-haired boy descending from the sky and folding his wings.
"This isn't what you said at all! Didn't you tell me they were weak?!"
The boy removed his hood, revealing his face. With a wicked smile, he looked at Ixchel and said, "They are weak. You're just even weaker. Isn't that obvious? Anyhow, I only wanted to test their quality today. The Seven Stars haven't begun acting yet, so I don't need to reveal myself this early… For the sake of the plan, you can step off the stage now~"
Smiling, the boy released his power, binding Darklord Ixchel.
"You're using me, Aluber?!"
Having lost her strength after the penalty of the Shadow Game, Ixchel struggled helplessly, unable to break free of the red-haired boy's control.
"You're just a puppet that my power allowed to manifest. Don't get the wrong idea. Our statuses aren't equal~"
The red-haired boy played idly with the card in his hand as he pulled up his hood again.
"Albeit I really didn't expect this… the fact that that Mama-mia professor received the Spirit World's acknowledgment. Anyway, with the last traces of Darkness here cleaned up, opening the door to the Spirit World won't be so easy now, right?"
Muttering to himself, he shoved Darklord Ixchel into the card case on his waist and turned his gaze to the side.
"How was it? Meeting him. Quite an interesting guy… don't you think?"
Standing there was a girl with white hair and red eyes, holding a long black sword bound with chains. The blade was drenched in blood, leaving a long trail behind her as she walked.
The girl stared at the collapsed old dorm with hollow yet sinister eyes and gave her verdict on everything that had just unfolded.
"Utterly boring."
The red-haired boy blinked, seemingly surprised by her answer.
"Didn't expect you to say that. Let's go before the faculty arrives. Our next clash with them… we'll set it before the three Sacred Beasts appear~"
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going! [Patreon.com/RedZTL]