Asuka glanced over the cards in her hand, took a deep breath, and swiftly recalled what the teacher had taught this semester before taking action.
"I activate the Magic Card 'Merciful Machine Angel'!" She played her first card, "Use a 'Cyber Angel' Ritual Monster from my hand or field as a tribute, and draw two cards from my card deck.
After that, I must select one card from my hand to place at the bottom of my card deck."
She revealed a card from her hand.
"I'll use 'Cyber Angel Benten' from my hand as a tribute and draw two cards from my card deck!"
Asuka drew two cards, quickly chose one to return to the card deck. The Duel Disc intelligently sent that card to the bottom of the card deck.
"Next, 'Cyber Angel Benten' has an effect when used as a tribute. In this case, I can add a Light Attribute, Fairy-Type Monster from my card deck to my hand."
A card popped out from the deck, swiftly drawn by Asuka. The deck then shuffled automatically, and she revealed the card.
"I'm adding a second 'Cyber Angel Benten' to my hand."
At this point, players started discussing.
"Wow, that's a great start!"
"Merciful Machine Angel" is usually a card disadvantage, but when using 'Cyber Angel Benten' as a tribute, it not only mitigates the disadvantage but allows precise retrieval from the card deck.
This sequence compressed the deck space, loaded resources into the graveyard, drew two cards, and accurately retrieved a Fairy-Type card, gaining an advantage.
It was not the kind of opening expected from an animated character and was completely different from everyone's impression.
Isn't it a common feature in GX Animation that all characters should have card disadvantage?
"Nice job, Sprite Sis!" someone chimed in, "You have great teaching skills!"
Cola Sprite stood proud, "No worries there!"
Ignoring how much our guild and the guild leader have spent!
That's the power of money!
"Summon 'Senju of the Thousand Hands' in defense position!"
A golden statue appeared on Asuka's field, with countless arms spreading in different directions, resembling a peacock spreading its feathers.
[Senju of the Thousand Hands, Defense 1000]
"Senju of the Thousand Hands' effect! When summoned, add a Ritual Monster Card from the card deck to the hand." Asuka drew another card from the card deck, "I'm adding 'Cyber Angel Idaten' to my hand."
Another retrieval brought Asuka a new key component.
"Set one card on the field, and end my turn."
Asuka let out a long breath, causing waves of emotion.
She was a bit worried about her performance, glancing nervously towards her instructor. Only to see Cola Sprite giving her a thumbs up, filled with approval.
"Now it's my turn, I'll draw a card." It was Darkness's turn, "Magic Card 'Graceful Charity,' draw three cards from the deck, then discard two cards from the hand."
His opening hand wasn't a surprise—this guy is a type-502 player, and during his animated duels, the same cards always seem to stick to his hand.
"I summon 'Black Dragon's Chick'!"
A pillar of molten fire shot skyward, leaving a charred, glowing oval dragon egg on the ground. The eggshell cracked open, and the small black dragon emerged.
[Black Dragon's Chick, Attack 800]
"Black Dragon's Chick's effect, send this card from the field to the graveyard, and special summon this card from my hand..."
Darkness exaggeratedly held up a card. The volcano roiled with magma, heat waves surged, and his black coat fluttered continuously as the magma enveloped a pitch-black dragon that soared skyward!
"Appear, legendary black dragon—
—Red-Eyes Black Dragon!!!"
Emerging from the scorching magma, sizzling red liquid dripped along its jet-black shell. The dragon's claws landed on the ground, and its crimson eyes seemed to flicker with burning fire.
Red-Eyes Black Dragon, summoned!
[Red-Eyes Black Dragon, Attack 2400]
"Here it is, Red-Eyes!" A player immediately got excited.
"Jonouchi, you still say these two aren't your creation!"
"Actually, I think Asuka looks more like Kaiba than Jonouchi..."
"Fubuki's outfit also resembles Kaiba's?"
"But Red-Eyes belongs to Jonouchi..."
"So it's Jonouchi and Kaiba's creation?"
"Wow, you're truly out of your mind..."
The crowd chattered endlessly as the duel continued.
"Magic Card - Fissure!" Darkness's attack proceeded, "Destroy the monster with the lowest attack on the opponent's field!"
Asuka looked at her field: "I only have one monster on my field..."
"So 'Senju of the Thousand Hands' is destroyed!"
The ground split open, and the thousand-armed deity statue faltered, crashing into the earth's chasm.
"Now, you're defenseless." Darkness sneered, "Battle. Direct attack with 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon'!"
The black dragon opened its jaws wide, eyes seemingly burning bright red, black lightning spilling from its edges, brewing a pitch-black fireball!
"Flip the Set Card," Asuka revealed her backfield, "Trap Card 'Aggressive Defense'! When the opponent's monster directly attacks, its attack is halved only during damage calculation!" (animation card)
[Red-Eyes Black Dragon, Attack 2400 → Attack 1200]
The pitch-black fireball exploded on Asuka, the darkness game's impact bringing a searing high temperature that seemed capable of evaporating one's muscles and bones.
The intense pain threatened to shatter her nerves, and Asuka couldn't help but moan, her long, slender legs bending slightly.
[Asuka, LP 4000 → LP 2800]
"Asuka!"
Judai, seeing her struggling to hold up, appeared worried for his companion. He angrily glared at Darkness.
"Hey, masked guy! Let me take over the duel!"
"No... it's fine."
Asuka declined Judai's offer, smiling at him before standing back up.
She looked a bit dusty from the blast—her lack of experience evidently left her underestimating the severity of the darkness game's damage.
But as a tough girl, she quickly pulled herself together, biting her lip just hard enough to rally.
"The follow-up effect of 'Aggressive Defense,' I draw one card from the deck." she said.
"Set two cards, end of turn." Darkness laughed lightly, "At this level, you'll soon be shredded by my 'Red-Eyes'."
"The Dark Duel isn't child's play; it's a game of death that only the strongest can endure. Any hesitance or fear, any detail, could lead to destruction!"
Asuka glanced at him with a smile.
"Oh? In that case, let me return these words to you as they are."