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

"An attack power of 3000 on a weakling monster? Are you kidding me?!"

The black-robed man's confident expression vanished in an instant as he faced the [Volcanic Rat], which was now burning with raging flames akin to a [Blue-Eyes White Dragon].

Aisha couldn't help but exclaim excitedly, "You did it again! The fighting style is unique to weak monsters. Mr. You Ling, you're really amazing!"

The [Volcanic Rat], wielding flames on par with the [Blue-Eyes White Dragon], clashed head-on with the [Summoned Skull].

"Burn the opponent's [Summoned Skull] to ashes! [Volcanic Rat], with 3000 ATK, attack!—Burst Stream of Destruction!"

"(ﾟДﾟ*)ﾉ Mr. You Ling, not every 3000 ATK attack has to be called that, right?"

Regardless, the name of the attack was just for show.

Even if it borrowed the name of the [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]'s signature move, the [Volcanic Rat]'s attack landed the next second. A crimson pillar of fire shot into the sky, shattering and incinerating the [Summoned Skull].

[Summoned Skull] destroyed.

Dark Duelist LP: 4000 → 3500

"Impossible! How could my [Summoned Skull] be defeated by such a weakling monster in the first turn? Just who are you?"

After just one exchange, the black-robed man, scorched and burned by the fiery pillar, realized that things weren't as simple as he had thought.

In a Dark Game, where a duelist's soul and life force were at stake, every battle between monsters inflicted real damage on the duelists themselves.

For example, the burning attack from the [Volcanic Rat] had already caused burn marks to appear on the black-robed man's arm.

"You're asking who I am? Then I'll tell you… just a passing duelist!"

"Are you kidding me?!"

The black-robed man felt like he was being toyed with by this little girl, and his tone grew angrier.

Not only had she effortlessly defeated his [Summoned Skull] with a weakling monster in the first turn, but she was also moving freely in the Dark Game?

Whether it was Ron, the background character he had defeated earlier, or Mizuki Mu, whom he had just taken down, none of them could maintain basic thought or consciousness during the Dark Game.

Yet this girl, who looked physically weaker and mentally more fragile, was perfectly fine, operating in the Dark Game without any issues.

"How is this little girl so resilient? Without the power of a Millennium Item, how can she withstand the erosion of the Dark Game? Wait, what's that…"

Due to Aisha's rather flat chest, the black-robed man hadn't paid much attention to her chest area, even if he had any ulterior motives.

But now, upon closer inspection, though it wasn't very noticeable in the darkness, the accessory hanging from the girl's chest seemed similar to his counterfeit Millennium Ring, with its golden eye.

"Could it be that this girl also possesses a Millennium Item? This is an emergency. I must report this to the cult leader immediately."

His attitude shifted from casual to serious.

Compared to simply robbing for wealth or lust, the black-robed man realized that the situation before him required a more serious approach.

This little girl from Fusion Academy might very well be the person the "cult leader" was searching for.

"I admit, I underestimated you earlier. Now, I will duel you with my full strength!"

Aisha: "Oh no, it seems we've angered him, Mr. You Ling!"

"So what if he's angry? Remember, Aisha, anger alone can't improve one's dueling skills. No matter what, you must maintain a calm mind during a duel."

After defeating the [Summoned Skull], You Ling selected a card from his hand and set it face-down on the field.

"I set one card and end my turn."

Using the ground as the duel field, the face-down Spell/Trap Card appeared at Aisha's feet.

"My turn, draw!"

Drawing a card to start his turn, the black-robed man held the card he drew and the Ritual Spell Card he had searched for last turn between his fingers, raising them high above his head.

"This is the ritual to summon a demon.—Ritual Spell Card, [Contract with the Abyss], activate!"

[Contract with the Abyss Ritual Spell Card Effect: Required for the Ritual Summon of a DARK Ritual Monster. You must also Tribute monsters from your hand or field whose total Levels equal the Level of the Ritual Monster you Ritual Summon.]

Ritual Summoning required tributing monsters from the hand or field whose total Levels matched the Level of the Ritual Monster being summoned.

"I will use the Level 6 monster [Legendary Fiend] in my hand as the ritual sacrifice to Ritual Summon a Level 6 monster!"

A dark, unfathomable ritual altar appeared on the black-robed man's field. As the demon monster from his hand was sacrificed and thrown into the abyssal altar, thunder roared in the pitch-black sky above.

"Descend along the path of thunder, the demon of the dark ritual!—[Fiend's Ascension]!"

[Fiend's Ascension ★★★★★★ (6 stars) Dark]

[Fiend-Type/Ritual/Effect ATK: 2500 DEF: 1200]

[This card can only be Ritual Summoned with the Ritual Spell Card, [Contract with the Abyss].]

The Ritual Monster descended amidst the thunder, resembling the [Summoned Skull] in appearance and sharing the same ATK. The [Fiend's Ascension] exploded onto the field.

Aisha: "It's just a Ritual Monster replacing the normal one. With 2500 ATK at Level 6, it can't beat our [Volcanic Rat]!"

"Even you can see that, Aisha. Do you think the opponent wouldn't realize it? Since he Ritual Summoned a monster, he must have a follow-up plan."

Maintaining his calm mindset during the duel, You Ling kept his eyes on the towering demon before him.

"Little girl, I must make you truly experience the fear of the Dark Game. With this demon and this card!"

After completing the Ritual Summon, the black-robed man flung a Spell Card from his hand toward the [Fiend's Ascension] above.

"—Spell Card [Demonic Rain] activate!"

The Spell Card, thrown into the swirling thunderclouds above, activated as it was absorbed.

Immediately, a torrential downpour began, drenching Aisha, who was still in the Dark Game environment, to the bone.

"What's this?"

Although Aisha's clothes were completely soaked, making her school uniform slightly transparent, You Ling's main concern was the [Volcanic Rat] on his field, whose flames were nearly extinguished.

"The effect of [Demonic Rain]: When I control a Fiend-Type monster, I can destroy all monsters on your field with DEF lower than my Fiend-Type monster's ATK!—Perish now, Demonic Thunder!"