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

"——Descend, [Great Rikka Queen Strenna]!"

[Great Rikka Queen Strenna ★★★★★★★★ (8 stars) Earth]

[Plant-Type/Special Summon/Effect ATK: 2900 DEF: 2400]

[This card cannot be Normal Summoned. You can Special Summon this card by banishing 1 Level 7 or higher Plant-Type monster from your hand and 1 from your Graveyard.]

By banishing the Level 7 [Rikka Queen Strenna] from her Graveyard and the Level 7 [Rikka Queen Teardrop] from her hand as the Special Summon conditions, Luka summoned a monster that combined the features of both angels.

Its wings were split into black and red, creating a harmonious and noble appearance that surpassed even Fusion Summoning. The four-colored wings fully displayed the majesty of a great angel.

Aisha: "2900 attack points? That's even higher than Summoned Skull! It's almost on par with the Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"

Once again, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon became the benchmark for attack power. Anything around 3000 attack points could be compared to it.

"The convergence of divine and demonic power! Let the Summoned Skull be annihilated in the chaos!"

With divine power in her left hand and demonic power in her right, the Great Rikka Queen Strenna combined both forces into a chaotic storm that surged toward Aisha's field.

"——Trap Card activated: [Precise Defense]!"

You Ling seized the opportunity to flip his face-down card.

[Precise Defense Trap Card Effect: When an opponent's monster declares an attack, you can target 1 Level 4 or lower monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it in face-up Defense Position. The monster Special Summoned by this effect cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects this turn.]

"When you declare an attack, I Special Summon [Queen's Knight] from my Graveyard in Defense Position!"

[Queen's Knight DEF: 1600]

"It's useless! Even if you summon another monster, my attack target is still your Summoned Skull!"

The demonic thunder of Summoned Skull couldn't withstand the chaotic storm unleashed by the Great Rikka Queen Strenna.

The violent storm swept over the massive body of Summoned Skull, pushing both it and Aisha's light frame to the edge of the duel field.

Of course, in a duel, the duelist going out of bounds had no effect and wasn't considered a foul.

"Hey, hey, hey! This is just a practical test. Isn't this going a bit too far?"

Ilin couldn't help but exclaim. The intensity of the duel made her worry for Aisha and You Ling in the duel field.

As for the others, they were too stunned to speak. They felt they weren't even qualified to comment on such a high-level battle.

Was this really a duel between first-year students?

How had Aisha Yuna Carlos, who had once been on the verge of expulsion, become so strong without anyone noticing?

Ilena smiled. "I told you, Aisha Carlos would become an incredible duelist. Or rather, she already has the courage to represent Fusion Academy in battle. That's remarkable in itself."

Although Luka Slint had transferred to Fusion Academy, she had only been there for a day. Luka still represented the strength of XYZ Academy, where she had previously studied.

As the duel escalated to such an intense level, more and more people began to see it as a battle to determine the superiority between Fusion Academy and XYZ Academy.

It was almost like a miniature version of the duels held in the Holy Land of Spirits by third-year students.

Kevin's expression was serious as he muttered under his breath, "Don't lose, Aisha↑↓!"

Aisha LP: 2000 → 1600

"Finally, I've managed to touch you."

The drop in Aisha's life points brought Luka immense satisfaction.

You Ling responded with a disdainful smile. "It's just a scratch. An attack of this level can't even destroy Summoned Skull."

As the dust from the chaotic storm settled, the Summoned Skull still stood tall on Aisha's field, defying the odds.

Retrieving the Sangan card from the graveyard, You Ling moved it to the designated zone.

"When Sangan is in the graveyard, it can be banished instead of a monster being destroyed by battle!"

The shared trait of Sangan is its ability to save the duelist in dire situations. Even this Sangan, used as a tribute for an advanced summon, was no exception.

"Oh? You specifically banished Sangan to protect Summoned Skull. Well done, truly well done!"

The reason Luka, after the soul swap, was so pleased was because she still had a deadly trap card in her hand—Magic Cylinder.

The only way You Ling could continue the battle, in Luka's mind, was by using an equip spell to boost Summoned Skull's attack.

But doing so would undoubtedly fall right into the trap of Magic Cylinder.

Whether defending or attacking, the only outcome awaiting Aisha Carlos was defeat.

"Then, I'll set one card and end my turn. If you can, try to truly defeat me, Aisha Carlos!"

After setting Magic Cylinder, Luka, in her soul state within the Millennium Ring, couldn't resist taunting.

Even with Aisha's simple mind, it was clear that the trap card Luka had set this turn was going to be a major problem.

In other words, to defeat Luka Slint, You Ling not only had to surpass Rose, the Fairy Sorceress but also deal with the set trap card.

"The way to break through this situation… a battle between Millennium Item holders…"

Searching for the equation to victory in his mind, You Ling began his turn by lightly tapping the top card of the deck.

"My turn, draw!"

The trajectory of the drawn card passed by the Millennium Puzzle hanging from Aisha's modest chest, leaving a faint golden glow.

The card drawn was the continuous trap card Human Wave Tactics.

At first glance, this card seemed useless for the current situation—essentially a dead draw.

But it was precisely this card that sparked a revelation in You Ling's mind.

The previously disconnected cards in his thoughts now linked together like a solved equation.

"Fusion, traps, and the strongest… knight."

You Ling looked at the Queen's Knight on his field, holding its shield in defense.

"The strongest knight? What are you talking about, Mr. You Ling?"

"Let me gamble one more time. In a battle between Millennium Item holders, I'll summon the strongest knight!"

You Ling flung the spell card forward.

"—Spell Card Reinforcement of the Army activate!"

[Reinforcement of the Army Spell Card Effect: Add 1 Level 4 or lower Warrior-Type monster from your Deck to your hand.]

"Using Reinforcement of the Army, I add King's Knight from my graveyard to my hand, then summon it in attack position!"

[King's Knight ATK: 1600]

The summoning and retrieval were executed flawlessly. The golden-armored King and the red-armored Queen stood side by side, their blades crossing as they called forth the Jack Knight from the deck.

"When Queen's Knight is on the field, and King's Knight is summoned or special summoned, I can summon one more Guardian Knight from my deck!"

[Guardian Knight ★★★★★ (5 stars) Light]

[Warrior-Type ATK: 1900 DEF: 1000]

Clad in silver armor, the Guardian Knight charged onto the battlefield. With the Jack Knight, the trio of JQK knights had gathered on the field in just one turn.

Luka chuckled. "The three knights with poker-themed names? Monsters of this level might work wonders against other duelists, but they won't stand a chance against me. My Great Majestic Angel Rose Fairy is stronger!"

You Ling drew a card and held it between his fingers, pointing it at Luka.

"No, the true strength of the three knights can only be unleashed through the right method. Tell me, Luka Slint, do you know what land you're standing on right now?"

"Huh? Isn't this just the duel field?" Luka tilted her head in confusion.

"Heh, the more accurate answer is—this is the land of Fusion Academy, the home of Fusion Summoning!"

You Ling hurled the card in his hand toward the sky of Fusion Academy with all his might.

"—Spell Card [Polymerization] activated! Let the three knights on my field fuse together!"

"Fusing the three knights?" Ilin exclaimed in shock. "But didn't all the previous fusion attempts fail? Can the three knights really fuse?"

"They can!"

The previous failures were because You Ling had only been testing the feasibility of fusion.

In the Elven Continent, where duel spirits truly existed, such a mindset wouldn't work.

Without the determination to win, without the resolve and conviction, the cards wouldn't respond to the summon.

"But this time, it's different!"

This time, it was fueled by the hopes of the surrounding students, all wishing for Aisha's victory in the duel. It was also a desperate attempt to prove the strength of Fusion Summoning at Fusion Academy.

"If you won't respond to me now, then when will you? Fuse, my strongest knight!"

The spiral of fusion energy erupted in the sky, absorbing the three knights on the field after You Ling, through Aisha's body, declared his resolve.

Aisha: "It worked, Mr. You Ling!"

"This is our ultimate fusion for the comeback. Ascend to the highest throne and reign supreme! Fusion Summon—[Sky Paladin]!"

[Sky Paladin ★★★★★★★★★ (9 stars) Light]

[Warrior-Type/Fusion/Effect ATK: 3800 DEF: 2500]

[Queen's Knight + Guardian Knight + King's Knight]

The true form of the three knights after fusion, the Sky Paladin, clad in black armor and wielding a holy sword, represented the strongest existence in the deck—the Joker of the poker cards.

"Sky... Sky Paladin? Attack power... 3800?"

Forced to take two steps back by the radiant aura of the Sky Paladin, Luka's expression grew serious.

"To think Aisha Carlos managed to fuse a monster of this caliber at the last moment."

A monster of this caliber, with attack power far surpassing the 3000 ATK of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon.

"As expected of another Millennium Item holder. You're not to be underestimated."

"It's time to decide the victor, Sky Paladin!"

Standing tall under the glorious light of fusion, You Ling pointed forward and declared the attack.

With an attack power of 3800, the Sky Paladin could easily defeat Luka's Great Majestic Angel Rose Fairy, which had 2900 ATK, in a single strike.

"Destroy the Great Majestic Angel Rose Fairy! Attack, Sky Paladin!"

"Hahahaha!"

The moment You Ling said the word "attack," Luka finally burst into laughter.

"So strong, too strong! But it seems I'm still one step ahead, Aisha! —Trap Card activated: [Magic Cylinder]!"

[Magic Cylinder Trap Card Effect: When an opponent's monster declares an attack: Target 1 attacking monster; negate the attack, and if you do, inflict damage to your opponent equal to its ATK.]

"The 3800 damage from your Sky Paladin will be reflected back at you! Use Magic Cylinder to bounce your attack!"

"The one who's one step ahead is me, Luka!"

You Ling twirled his fingers, revealing the last card in his hand.

"Sky Paladin's effect activates!"

[When a card or effect is activated that targets this card on the field: You can discard 1 card of the same type (Monster, Spell, or Trap) from your hand; negate that effect.]

By discarding a card of the same type, You Ling could negate the activation of a card of that type.

And the last card You Ling revealed was imprinted in Luka's sapphire-blue eyes, leaving her in disbelief.

Trap Card [Human Wave Tactics].

"No way!"

"I discard a Trap Card from my hand to activate Sky Paladin's effect, negating the activation of your Trap Card, [Magic Cylinder]!"

[Magic Cylinder] effect negated.

The radiant light of the Sky Paladin's purification dispersed the Magic Cylinder Luka had activated.

"With this, it's over! The final strike! —『Sky Holy Cross Slash』!"

Breaking through the barrier of the Magic Cylinder, the Sky Paladin's holy sword unleashed a double strike, carving a massive holy cross into the body of the Great Majestic Angel Rose Fairy.

The next second, the holy cross exploded, shattering the Great Majestic Angel Rose Fairy into four pieces.

The powerful shockwave from the explosion also sent the petite Luka flying out of the duel field.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh—!"

Luka Slint LP: 700 → 0

The cigarette that had fallen to the ground had been extinguished for a while. The intensity of the duel had successfully made Teacher Erin forget about her smoking habit.

Glancing at the scoreboard in her hand, Teacher Erin wasn't even sure how many points to award for this duel.

"This is just a weekly practical test. There was no need to go this far..."

There was no need to summon the Sky Paladin, Aisha.