I Refused To Be Reincarnated

Echoing her command, the sweet scent intensified, causing blood to rush to the insect lord's eyes. Animated by an irrepressible desire for the plant, its figure trembled, then blurred into motion.

Like a dark dart hurled by a ballista, it crossed the distance in a second. Mandible dripping corrosive saliva, it bit on the Carnivorous Carnation's petal, delight flashing in its eyes.

However, dread rapidly replaced it.
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With a soft fling, the plant threw the monstrous chimaera into the air before sharp glints drew everyone's attention. Right then, it revealed its gapping, horrible mouth, ready to swallow the fool lured by its perfume

In a cacophony of breaking chitin, the Carnation devoured the Insect Lord like a snack before everyone's enlarged eyes.

Then, loud cheers erupted as the crowd chanted Lena's name with flushed faces.

On the dean's balcony, Maya yawned in boredom.

"That's all your disciple can do?"

Moira interjected, her contemptuous tone forcing Shepard's brow to furrow into a black painting.

"Once again, you are lucky not to face the consequences of your offer. But take it as a humbling lesson."

With Zane absent, he couldn't bet. Yet the shame of losing this early after offering to raise the stakes would leave a dark mark in his heart.

Worry prickled his skin, turning into despair a moment later as Lena's voice resounded again.

"After destroying a monster, the Carnivorous Carnation inherits ten percent of its base strength!"

The attack points displayed above the horrible plant increased again.

ATK 2800->3000

Adam squinted as he gazed at the plant's bulging body and sword-like teeth. Then, he looked at his cards, biting his nail.

'I need to draw it this time, or it'll be tricky to win.'

Closing his eyes, his trembling hand itched to his deck. He snatched a card, muttering.

"I hope it's him."

Full of hesitation, his eyelids fluttered open, taking in the card's drawing and name.

'Shit.'

Despair washed over him, freezing his soul as the Haunted soul's picture burned itself into his eyes. How could he get rid of the Carnivorous Carnation with it?

"You might as well give up. Even if you put up a shaky defence, it'll only fuel my monster's strength. You lost!"

Lena's voice cut through his anxiousness, but a spark ignited in his eyes. He straightened his posture, gripping his cards tighter. Defiance replaced his fear.

"I lost? Who says so?"

He slammed his first card on the slot.

An invisible ugly kid materialised, its mischievous laughter reverberating across the cavernous field.

"Poltergeist' effect activated. By discarding a monster, I can summon an additional ghost to my field."

He threw the Doppelgänger to his graveyard, then smashed the haunted soul on the second slot.

A haunting voice instantly filled the arena, whispering cryptic words of despair.

He remembered how they made Julius' emotions boil in a chaotic mess when they faced her. Fortunately, it was only an illusion or the entire avenue would have gone crazy.

Then, a dark mage robe gnawed by the passing of years fluttered as the soul turned towards the plant. Her empty eye socket, emanating an ominous glow, sent despair course through the watching crowd. The bloody tear running down her cheeks intensified the sentiment as they felt this ghost was by far the most terrifying they had seen.

However, their jaws hung open in disbelief the next second as they noticed the monster's attack.

ATK 0

"Hahaha!"

Lena's laughter shattered the awkward silence settling. Amusement sparkling in her eyes, she slapped the desk as her pointed ears shook.

"That's a great way to buy time!"

She exclaimed between her laughter. With zero attack points, her plant couldn't grow stronger, creating an unforeseen yet hilarious situation for her. After all, what fool would put that weak monster into his deck?

However, her smile froze as his next words reverberated.

"Haunted soul, destroy that plant!"

"???"

Confusion veiled everyone's face for a second before they understood. Adam probably couldn't bear to go down without a fight. Therefore, he probably wanted to offer them a good show before he lost.

Yet, Morgan's eyes sparkled from her seat.

No one knew ghosts better than her, and she remembered when they faced her in the canyon last year. Haunted souls never actively attacked but longed to find peace in death. Truthfully, if they could manipulate evil energy and were more prone to violence, she didn't doubt they would be the most feared ghost species in the world.

Fortunately, they were just dark mages' failed attempts to create artificial ghosts using mana.

With a solemn expression, she watched the haunted soul's whispers grow stronger by the second until they became deafening.

The Carnivorous Carnation trembled next, its teeth clinking loudly as the woman hovered closer.

The moment she entered its range, thick roots shattered the soil, entangling her tightly.

Without wasting a second, as if pressed by an invisible pressure, it lashed her into its mouth, closing its teeth to chew her.

As everyone expected to hear pained shrieks after the teeth came down like razors, a relieved sigh reverberated on the field.

Then, Adam's roar cut through the general confusion.

"Activate your effect! The haunted soul longs for death despite its horrifying strength. Once killed, a torrent of decay and curses will flood its killer's body, wiping it from existence!"

The Carnation's lush scarlet leaves gradually turned gray. Its towering pistil, almost a meter wide, shrunk like a withered fruit as its sharp teeth fell to the ground one by one.

Before Lena's almost rolling eyes, her ace monster turned into a cloud of dry ashes, floating amidst the fog before dissipating into oblivion.

"This can't be happening!"

She yelled, slamming her palms on the desk and shaking her head in disbelief and unwillingness.

She glared at Adam's defiant eyes, ready to scream that she hadn't lost yet.

However, the blaze alone forced a nervous gulp down her throat.

His mouth opened next.

"I use a boosting spell on the Poltergeist. Go besiege her first castle."

His low command reverberated as the fog parted to let the invisible kid proceed onward as its attack points floated in the empty cave.

ATK 1200->1500->1700