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

Aisha: "(꒪Д꒪)ノ This little thing looks so… unique. Can this really be called an angel?"

You Ling: "Trust me, you'll see even more bizarre-looking angels in the future."

As everyone knew, if a monster's appearance was too strange to fit into any specific race, it was safe to classify it as a Fairy-Type.

Speaking of which, [Yado Karu] was also a Fairy-Type, even though it looked like a block of tofu.

The black-robed man waved his hand and declared, "The special effect of the monster card [Senju of the Thousand Hands] activates when this card is successfully summoned."

This was the first time since his transmigration that You Ling had encountered an opponent actively using a monster's effect in a duel.

This also proved that the dark duelist before him, who hunted for rare cards, was indeed more skilled than most first-year students at Fusion Academy.

"The effect of [Senju of the Thousand Hands] allows me to add one Ritual Spell Card from my deck to my hand. I choose the Ritual Spell—[Contract with the Abyss]!"

The card depicted an altar ritual leading to an abyss. This Ritual Spell, which even You Ling wasn't familiar with, was added to the black-robed man's hand.

"Hehehe, the demon's hell is just beginning."

The black-robed man let out an eerie laugh, and combined with the atmosphere of the Dark Game, it sent a chill down You Ling's spine.

Of course, the chill might also have been because Aisha's body was too thin, and the temperature in the back mountain at night was quite low.

"I activate the Spell Card from my hand—[Double Summon]!"

[Double Summon Spell Card Effect: This turn, you can Normal Summon up to 2 times.]

Two pillars of magical energy rose beside the black-robed man, representing the additional Normal Summon opportunity this turn.

At the same time, the black-robed man revealed a second monster card from his hand.

"For my second Normal Summon, I will tribute the [Senju of the Thousand Hands] on the field to perform an Advanced Summon!"

Aisha: "An Advanced Summon on the first turn? This opponent seems pretty strong, Mr. You Ling."

This wasn't just "pretty strong." The card the black-robed man was planning to Advanced Summon was one You Ling recognized.

Normally, an Advanced Summon that tributes only 1 monster can only summon Level 5 or 6 monsters.

But the Level 6 monster in the black-robed man's hand was once known as the "King of Single Tributes," representing the pinnacle of combat power for monsters summoned with a single tribute.

"The monster I will Advanced Summon is—[Summoned Skull]!"

[Summoned Skull ★★★★★★ Dark]

[Fiend-Type ATK: 2500 DEF: 1200]

Accompanied by thunder that split the darkness, [Summoned Skull] descended. Its pale skeletal body exuded an aura of ultimate fear in the darkness.

Aisha exclaimed, "A Level 6 monster with 2500 ATK? That's even higher than the [Red-Eyes Black Dragon]!"

Although its DEF was much lower than the Red-Eyes Black Dragon, its ATK surpassed the 7-star [Red-Eyes Black Dragon], which required two tributes to summon.

Being able to summon a monster of this caliber on the first turn showed that the dark duelist before them was far stronger than Kevin, whom You Ling had dueled for the first time.

"Scared enough to wet your pants yet, little girl? I end my turn!"

Facing a demon stronger than the Black Dragon, You Ling encountered an unprecedented strong opponent in his first Dark Game.

Not to mention, the opponent also had a Ritual Spell with an unknown effect in hand.

"My turn, draw."

Starting his turn by drawing a card, You Ling scanned the card's face through Aisha's eyes.

"It's here!"

Using the lifespan of his previous life as a price, You Ling's luck in drawing cards was exceptionally strong.

Even with a 40-card deck, You Ling managed to draw the key card he desperately needed on the first turn.

"Surprised? This time, I didn't get a bad hand!"

Moreover, this card was a newly crafted Level B Spell Card, created using the 100 credits You Ling had accumulated over the past few weeks of practical tests.

It was an Equip Spell Card.

"I summon in attack position—[Volcanic Rat]!"

[Volcanic Rat ★ Fire]

[Pyro-Type ATK: 500 DEF: 500]

Since he planned to use an Equip Spell Card, You Ling needed a monster on the field.

This small, fiery red [Volcanic Rat], with its 500 ATK, became the target of You Ling's equipment enhancement.

"Next, I activate the Level B Spell Card, Equip Spell—[Amulet of Ambition]!"

The Equip Spell Card, which could hardly be called a weapon, materialized as a large-eyed metal accessory. A strange beam of light shot from its eye, imprinting itself on the tiny [Volcanic Rat].

"I didn't expect you to have a Level B rarity Spell Card, little girl."

The black-robed man's greed was evident, as he felt he was about to gain both wealth and beauty.

"The only downside is that this Equip Spell, despite being Level B, has never been seen on the black market, making it hard to appraise."

Of course, it hadn't been seen before. After all, aside from You Ling, who used Aisha's deck of weak monsters, no one would spend 100 Spell Points to craft such a card.

"Even if the equipment is strong, pairing it with a Level 1 weakling won't do any good. [Summoned Skull] is stronger than most Level 7 monsters!"

The black-robed man was well aware of the combat power represented by a Level 6 monster with 2500 ATK, and his tone was full of arrogance and confidence.

"Underestimating Level 1 weaklings, huh? Then you're in for a rude awakening. This Equip Spell gives weaklings the chance to overthrow the strongest. The effect of [Amulet of Ambition]!"

[Amulet of Ambition Equip Spell Card Effect: When the equipped monster battles a monster with a higher Level, the equipped monster's ATK increases by the difference in Levels × 500 during damage calculation.]

"What? An Equip Spell that boosts ATK based on Level difference?"

A look of surprise flashed in the black-robed man's eyes.

"The Level 1 [Volcanic Rat] and the Level 6 [Summoned Skull] have a Level difference of 5. Therefore, during battle, [Volcanic Rat]'s ATK increases by 5 × 500 = 2500 points!"

[Volcanic Rat ATK: 500 → 3000]

The weaker the monster, the more effective this Equip Spell became.

With its ATK skyrocketing by 2500 points, the small and cute [Volcanic Rat] began to gather a fiery aura around it in the darkness.

As the flames took shape, it was as if a massive fire dragon was roaring on You Ling's field.

With a staggering 3000 ATK, this was no longer a weakling—it was practically a [Blue-Eyes White Dragon].