I Refused To Be Reincarnated

'What kind of creature is that?!'

The thought rumbled in his mind as his teeth clenched, and his jaw protruded.

Even for a tier-four magical beast, her strength was off the charts. Yet, she looked more human than anything, making the situation extremely bizarre.

Unfortunately, he had nothing in hand to counter her. Worst, the banshee queen and simian knight weren't her match. Therefore, he had to draw the Dullahan, or he would lose. But what were the chances for it to happen?

'There is no way he got this card by himself.'

A sense of wrongness washed over him.

He doubted Luke subdued such a being with his timidness and lack of self-confidence, meaning he received it from someone.

But he knew the discovery would changed nothing.

He had to overcome the situation with his own strength and luck.

'Thinking about luck, Nova's gift appears more and more like a scam to me! I've been nothing but unlucky. Starting with that cleaver!'

He pushed those thoughts down, narrowing his eyes on his deck. The duel came first.

Despite the shiver running through his frame, his lips pursed in a hesitant grimace as he drew.

"..."

Eyes trembling, his mind blanked for a second upon taking the card's drawings in.

'I'll train her personally until she reaches the sixth tier and gives me a real blessing!'

A deep, relieved sigh escaped his lips. Even if the shadow ghost couldn't handle the girl, it would buy him an extra turn, returning a smidgen of hope into the bleak situation.

Without wasting time, he summoned the evil ghost before ending his turn and glaring at Luke.

Despite his overwhelming advantage and the crowd cheering his name, the boy trembled as he drew.

"I-I summon the astral panda."

His stuttering annoyed him more than anything, birthing the impulse to jump over the desk and slap him.

As Luke slotted his card, the shimmering stars coalescing drew his attention to the field.

A moment later, a majestic panda emerged from the light with a low growl.

"What a cute beast!"

He heard Asha's delighted exclamation, yet his brows twitched as he gathered all his willpower to restrain himself from slaughtering the beast.

'Pandas are bears, too! You're lucky we aren't in the wild.'

As his face darkened and a red glint flashed ominously in his eyes, Luke's hesitant voice cut through his growing anger, replacing it with another wave of annoyance.

"I-I'll attack the flower and your shadow ghost. Sorry."

"The shadow ghost can't be destroyed once per duel."

He crossed his arms over his chest as the flower exploded into light sparks after the girl's attack.

Like last time, the Shadow ghost slithered in an evasive manoeuvre before condensing on the field, revealing its bladed frame and sending shivers agitating the crowd.

Yet, he ignored the uproar, his eyes fixed on his deck like a predator eying a prey.

It was the moment of truth. Of course, he wouldn't lose instantly, but he would start his next turn with an empty field, making it impossible to summon a tier-four creature.

He gritted his teeth.

'If not for the forced discard.'

With four cards in hand, he could have used the Poltergeist and Doppelgänger combo to fill his field and hold an additional turn after drawing the latter. But that stupid effect ruined this possibility.

Honestly? Luke countered him thoroughly with his strategy, making him realise in dread that the further he progressed in the tournament, the harder it would be to win without developing fresh approaches and learning new spells to boost his creatures.

'I can't lose here! I'll create my own field spell for the next duels if it is what it takes.'

As the thought rumbled, his hand blurred into motion, snatching the deck's top card between his wooden fingers.
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Despite his determination. Despite his strong deck. Despite Nova's blessing, he drew the insect lord instead of the Dullahan.

A mask of fury veiled his face upon seeing this stupid enemy from the past. His fists clenched, cracking wooden noises resounding as he struck his leg.

"I refuse to lose!"

He roared, slamming the insect lord in its slot in spite and scaring Luke.

"Get rid of that shitty field, you useless parasite!"

At his command, the chimaera leapt high above the courtyard, its dark form casting a horrible shadow into the crowd's and Luke's hearts before slamming its chitinous fists on the ground in a show of unbridled violence.

RUMBLE

The intricately carved columns shattered into dust clouds, followed by the beautifully decorated courtyard's slabs exploding into a rain of rubble. The starlight veil enveloping the girl collapsed next.

"Eviscerate that cute acting bear!"

Righteous vengeance filled his roar as his eyes spewed fire just by looking at the panda.

No bears would survive after he saw them. He would kill them all on sight. Even in a duel!

Huffing in anger, he watched the insect lord rip apart the beast he hated the most with uncontrollable savagery. The spectacle calmed him a little, allowing him to think about his next move.

"I'll use a field spell."

He called upon the cave boosting unnatural creatures, giving his monsters a well-needed two-hundred attack bonus.

Meanwhile, Luke summoned another beast and used a boosting spell to raise its attack.

Virgo's lesser incarnation shattered the insect lord's resilient chitin in a single blow, leaving a deep hole in its chest. Then, she destroyed his first castle as the new beast devoured his shadow ghost, leaving his field empty and vulnerable.

Everyone watching knew the duel would come to a close in a few turns at maximum, with him being the loser.

But he couldn't accept it.

In the blink of an eye, he drew his next card, cursing at the insect chimaera he didn't need.

Despite the disappointment, he still had a card to play.

"Show them true despair, haunted soul."

The horrifying evil ghost appeared on his field again, her tattered dress fluttering behind her as her empty eye sockets locked on her enemy.