I Refused To Be Reincarnated

'Runeweaver? As Moira's family name?!'

His mouth hung open as thunder tumbled in his mind.

Then, his mind blanked, replaying his discussion with Elara.

'That's why she hates him! The genius' family split into two branches at some point. One chose alchemy, leading to Thurin's lineage. Meanwhile, the other continued to delve into enchanting, giving birth to Moira!'

The logical deduction opened a new door for his investigation. He didn't suspect Moira to know about him. She knew. It was now a certainty.

'I'll ask Shepard to pressure her like a lemon in the betting.'

He nodded, lowering his hat on his sparkling eyes, a smirk splitting his face as he resumed his walk to the duel desk.

Once behind, he gazed at his adversary's flowing blonde hair, green eyes, and violet uniform. The relief emblem embroidered on her chest and the thick grimoire resting on her leather belt intrigued him.
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Before curiosity could gnaw at him, her emotionless and bored voice pierced through the silence.

"Academy of Summoning, fifth-year student and Edgar's disciple, Mia."

"Goddess, Mia!"

"Argh! My heart is melting. She looked at me!"

"Who would look at your ugly face? Keep dreaming!"

The crowd cheered her name and stomped in excitement, making the ground reverberate under his feet and brows rise into a silent question.

However, she remained silent as if nothing could reach her noble and superior self.

'She is already annoying me.'

With a click of his tongue, he responded.

"Future best duelist and enchanter, Shepard's number one disciple, the best drawer, spear thrower, scientist... Wait, I can't remember everything? Anyway, the best!"

Shepard facepalmed at his shameless introduction. Yet his lips curled into an approving smile.

Meanwhile, the crowd exploded in boisterous laughter, raising their thumbs at this bold junior.

Noticing she remained as still as a statue, he fished a coin from his pouch.

"Heads."

Her voice resounded, dripping with confidence and disdain.

"Alright, my lady."

He threw it, already imagining her arrogant face crumbling after her defeat.

"Seems luck is on your side."

He smirked, swinging his palm to show her the field was hers to play.

After drawing her cards, she started, her detached expression grating at his nerves.

"Appear, netherworld's snake."

A triangular head shattered the plain as she slotted the card. Its obsidian scales absorbed the sunlight, and its forked tongue reached to him as a hiss reverberated.

She continued.

"Field spell."

After her chant, the plain swirled. Tall, spiked buildings rose, wafting mist that took soul-chilling shapes and sent shivers down everyone's spines.

"Any netherworld creature can use its effects twice."

'Shit. She's up to something huge!'

His smirk froze on his face for a second before her next words, not the ones he expected, echoed.

"I end my turn."

A deep frown creased his brows as he drew his four cards. She couldn't have reached the competition's last day if she were a fool.

'Fishy.'

He took a moment to think, tapping his finger on his lips as he gazed at his cards. Without the insect lord, he couldn't destroy the spell.

But he couldn't remain passive, either.

'The snake is like the haunted soul. It can activate its effect once attacked.'

With this thought in mind, he let go of the Poltergeist, grabbed an insect chimaera instead and placed it on the desk's slot.

The horrendous creature made its grand return, its dark chitin and grotesque body reflecting its creator's malevolence.

"Use your effect and attack the snake."

At his command, its mandibles clicked, its dark insect eyes turned red, and its feet blurred.

In a second, it reached the snake, their attack displayed in bold numbers above their heads.

ATK 1800->2100

ATK 1600

SNAP

Its mandibles dripped ghastly blood as it dug into the snake's neck. Without surprise, it landed on the ground, accompanied by a rain of sparks, signing its adversary's death.

"Netherworld's snake's effect activates upon death. I can draw any card from my deck."

Like ice water, Mia's voice doused any excitement he could have felt after beating the creature. Then, she drew two cards and smirked cruelly.

'At least I'll keep my chimaera.'

Finding solace in this idea, he still frowned. That snake's effect was formidable.

Drawing cards was key in a duel, even more so for the ones you needed.

He couldn't help but gaze at her graveyard, longing flashing in his eyes.

With it, he could draw a tier-four monster as easily as breathing, significantly reducing his poor luck's impact.

Meanwhile, Mia's voice thundered, shattering her nonchalant image into pieces.

"You think you're on my level? Fool! I summon the netherworld's elemental dragon."

His eyes narrowed, an ominous feeling tightening around his soul as the mist swirled.

From it, bright red, green, blue, and brown colors sparkled before a roar shook his mind.

He could feel their approach, dread's icy finger as the wind risen by the appearing creature blew his hair.

Yet, he almost tumbled to the ground the next second.

"The heck is that?!"

He slapped his desk, his expectations crushed by... by a cute creature?!

Before he could recover, Mia ended her turn. Then she spoke again, her haughtiness almost rivalling Moira's.

"Activate your effect twice."

The baby dragon, no longer than half a meter from head to tail, suddenly tensed.

Sharp claws grew from its paws, its scales brightened, reflecting the four elements, and its size enlarged under everyone's widening eyes.

"After each of my turn, the tier-one netherworld's elemental dragon progresses to the next tier."

"An evolving monster?!"

Disbelief veiled his face for a second, replaced by solemness.

'It's a ticking time bomb I must destroy before it blows on my face!'

Gritting his teeth, he drew the card he got from Luke on the previous day. A surprise that stretched his lips into a warm smile as he placed it in his hand.

"I summon the poltergeist."

He slammed it, then used its familiar effect by discarding the banshee queen to summon the Pontianak.

The invisible kid's mischievous laughter reverberated on the field. Meanwhile, the alluring scarlet woman made her grand entrance, leaping from a sea of negative energy.

The crowd cheered again, their eyes glued on her forms.

Yet, he didn't plan to waste one of his three actions to dress her up this time.

'I won't waste spells and use them only in strategic moments.'

His fingers drummed on the desk, a frown stretching his brows.

Despite his powerful lineup and the security it offered, the ominous feeling prickling his soul didn't disappear.