Let's play cards! In a fantasy world of swords and magic

After returning [Monster Reborn], You Ling initially thought that, based on the strict rules of the Elven Continent regarding card ownership, they wouldn't receive any reward cards.

However, as the gentle breeze of the back mountain rustled through the depths of the forest, something unexpected happened.

Ding-ling~~~~!

Like wind chimes swaying in a summer breeze, a pleasant metallic clinking sound echoed through the air.

The source of the sound was the counterfeit Millennium Ring hanging from the black-robed man's chest.

You Ling muttered in surprise, "How is this possible? The Shadow Game is already over. Why is the Millennium Ring still reacting?"

Immediately after, like a soulless zombie, the black-robed man, who had been unconscious after losing the Shadow Game, shakily got back on his feet.

"Help, Mr. You Ling! This guy is still conscious!"

Aisha couldn't help but scream in panic. After all, the black-robed man's current state was even more terrifying than when he was awake.

—Soul Swap!

You Ling quickly swapped back into Aisha's body.

Good grief, she's gone weak again.

Even with his quick reflexes, You Ling couldn't keep up with how fast his timid host's legs gave out.

In any case, he tried to maintain his posture. Once he recovered a bit, he'd be ready to run if things went south.

However, what happened next was completely different from what You Ling had imagined.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"

The black-robed man didn't show any hostility toward Aisha. Instead, he kept muttering apologies, as if begging someone for forgiveness.

"I'm sorry, Lord Cult Leader. Please, give me another chance. I don't… I don't want to die! Aaaaaaah!"

As the Millennium Ring let out an eerie metallic clinking sound, the black-robed man's joints twisted into positions no human body should be capable of.

"I'm deeply sorry, Lord Cult Leader!"

After one final scream, the black-robed man's head twisted 180 degrees, and he fell lifeless to the ground.

The counterfeit Millennium Ring on his chest turned into a wisp of black ash, scattering in the wind.

This shocking scene unfolded in less than a minute, leaving even You Ling, who was in control of Aisha's body, too stunned to breathe.

"Damn, we really killed someone with a card game this time!"

Squinting his eyes, You Ling glanced at the headless 'corpse' on the ground.

The reason for squinting wasn't because You Ling was scared—it was to avoid scaring Aisha.

"What did he mean by 'Lord Cult Leader'? And why did the Millennium Ring break?"

You Ling, of course, didn't know that the black-robed man's Millennium Ring was a counterfeit.

After everything that had happened tonight, You Ling felt an overwhelming sense of unease.

"Mr. You Ling, the cards, the cards!"

Aisha's urgent voice echoed in his mind.

"What cards?"

"The dark duelist's cards are burning!"

"Huh?"

Too preoccupied with processing the night's events, You Ling, who shared Aisha's vision, hadn't noticed the black-robed man's deck spontaneously combusting from within his Spirit Eye.

In the Elven Continent, when a duelist dies, the cards they hold are destroyed along with their Spirit Eye.

However, if the deceased duelist was powerful enough, one card would remain.

That card would become another type of tradable card, separate from those obtained through Shadow Games.

[Summoned Skull]—a deeply ironic outcome.

Aisha hadn't chosen to take this card through a Shadow Game.

Yet, in the end, [Summoned Skull] became a tradable card through the black-robed man's 'sudden death.'

"Take it. No point in leaving it behind."

Stepping over the eerie corpse, You Ling retrieved the sole surviving card from the ashes of the burned deck.

The card still depicted the demon clad in pale bones. The immense spiritual energy it contained gave You Ling, who had only ever handled weak monster decks, his first taste of what it felt like to possess a truly powerful card.

Cards like [Card Exchange] were nothing more than n.tr in comparison.

Aisha: "(oﾟ▽ﾟ)o This card is so strong, Mr. You Ling! I never thought this card would end up in our hands after all. Heehee!"

This girl… She seemed so pure and kind when she returned the card to Mizuki Mu. How did she end up saying something that sounded so villainous?

Are you chaotic good or something?

After carefully examining the [Summoned Skull] card in his hand, You Ling's expression grew serious.

"It's strong, but not strong enough."

"This card isn't strong enough?"

Well, it depends on what you compare it to.

You Ling had initially thought that the overwhelming pressure he felt when entering the back mountain came from this [Summoned Skull].

But now that he held it, he realized that the mysterious pressure he had sensed was far beyond what even the so-called 'King of Single Tributes,' [Summoned Skull], could ever hope to match.

The gap was simply too vast.

"The truth of this back mountain… Maybe we haven't even scratched the surface."

Just as You Ling had this thought, the Millennium Puzzle, guided by his consciousness, reacted once more.

「The enemy's darkness still lingers here. Heir of the Partner, please drive away that malice for the sake of your friends.」

A voice, completely unfamiliar yet resonating deep within his soul, echoed in You Ling's mind.

"Aisha, was that you just now?"

"No, not at all."

It definitely didn't sound like Aisha. The voice was entirely foreign, yet it felt as though it reached the depths of his soul.

"The enemy's darkness?"

The message was vague, leaving You Ling momentarily confused.

Then, as if to explain the meaning of those words, the golden eye on the Millennium Puzzle shot out a beam of light, pointing toward the spot where Aisha had parted ways with Ilin earlier.

"The enemy's darkness still lingers here…"

After a moment of rapid thinking, You Ling suddenly realized what was happening.

"Could it be that there's more than one dark duelist? Oh no, Ilin's still alone. She might be in danger!"

There was no time to return control of the body to Aisha. Following the light's guidance, You Ling sprinted toward the spot where they had separated earlier.

As You Ling and Aisha left, a semi-transparent figure emerged from the depths of the forest, gazing thoughtfully at the retreating girl and the swaying Millennium Puzzle.

"How nostalgic. There was a time when I, too, fought alongside my partner like this. 'Things that are seen yet unseen'—fight to protect that intangible bond of friendship and kindness, Heir."

If You Ling had turned around just once more, he might have recognized that dazzling, star-like… hairstyle.

To be continued...