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

The radiant light dispelled the darkness, and the angel defeated the demon.

Winning the first Dark Game, You Ling also achieved a milestone tactical breakthrough for Aisha's weakling deck in actual combat—

a dual-triangle combo OTK strategy.

The duel was officially declared over. The dark mist surrounding Aisha in the Dark Game gradually dispersed, and the scenery returned to the tranquil academy back mountain.

Then, perhaps due to the radiance You Ling released at the end, under the warm glow, Aisha's hair and school uniform, which had been soaked by the demonic mist and rain, returned to their original dry state.

Thud!

The black-robed man who lost in the Dark Game let out a painful scream. Then, like a puppet with its strings cut, he collapsed flat on the ground, making a resounding impact.

It looked incredibly painful.

Aisha: "That's great, Mr. You Ling. We won. We won the Dark Game!"

You Ling: "We had to win. If we lost, the consequences would have been even worse than what happened to Mizuki Mu."

You Ling estimated that with Aisha's simple personality, she might not even realize how terrifying it would have been if they had lost this Dark Game.

At that point, it wouldn't just be about losing a rare card or suffering a mental breakdown.

Especially since their opponent seemed to have noticed the Millennium Puzzle on Aisha's chest during the duel.

Being targeted by the wielder of the Millennium Wisdom Wheel—who was suspected to be a major villain—was obviously extremely dangerous.

You Ling: "Anyway, although the process was risky, at least the reward was worth it."

A tradeable card—the greatest reward from a Dark Game. This was far more valuable than just earning Spell Points.

After all, a tradeable card meant they could take their opponent's monster card, something that Spell Points—used only for refining spell and trap cards—couldn't achieve.

Just as You Ling had boldly declared before finishing the duel, that Single Tribute King, a 6-star monster with attack power surpassing [Red-Eyes Black Dragon], [Summoned Skull], could at least improve the 100% weakling concentration of Aisha's deck.

As long as one weak monster was kept alive, they could tribute summon a 2500 ATK monster next turn. Even in a gradually forming survival-of-the-weakest meta, this was incredibly powerful.

Aisha: "We just need to take the card out of the deck, right?"

You Ling opened the deck taken from the unconscious black-robed duelist and quickly scanned it.

For Aisha, the most valuable card was clearly [Summoned Skull].

Or, perhaps another option—[Monster Reborn], a B-rank Spell Card.

However, [Monster Reborn] wasn't originally the black-robed duelist's card. It was actually a rare card from Mizuki Mu's deck, which was still lying on the ground.

Thinking carefully, Mizuki Mu was truly unlucky.

He hadn't done anything wrong—just got curious about the rumors of the Egyptian God Cards and got caught up in the Dark Game purely out of his passion for dueling. Yet, in the end, he lost his rarest card.

Who knew if he would end up like Ron—driven insane after losing a Dark Game?

You Ling: "Wait a minute… This [Monster Reborn] is now a tradeable card… Does that mean we can take an extra one?"

While debating whether to choose [Summoned Skull] or [Monster Reborn], You Ling suddenly realized something.

Because of this Dark Game, [Monster Reborn], which was previously a bound card, had now become a tradeable card.

So… could he take [Summoned Skull] first and then also take the now-tradeable [Monster Reborn]?

Aisha: "About that… It doesn't seem possible, Mr. You Ling."

You Ling: "Why not?"

Aisha: "Even if it's a tradeable card, if the original owner isn't conscious and aware of the transaction, you still can't take it. That's the card rule of the Spirit Continent."

You Ling: "Tch, what a stingy rule."

His plan to exploit the system failed, and You Ling clicked his tongue in frustration.

Winning a Dark Game should've meant taking their opponent's entire deck, yet the rule only allowed them to take one card.

With card circulation being so restrictive, it was no wonder that even after centuries, the average duelist's level remained low.

Aisha: "Also… um, could I ask you for a favor, Mr. You Ling?"

This time, Aisha's voice sounded hesitant, as if she was embarrassed to speak.

You Ling: "Come on, between us, you don't need to be so formal. Just say it."

Aisha: "It might sound selfish, but… could we return [Monster Reborn] to Mizuki Mu?"

You Ling: "Return it?" The girl furrowed her brows. "Why?"

Aisha: "Losing a card in a Dark Game is like losing a part of your soul. A duelist will suffer a backlash from the Spirit Eye, possibly ending up like Ron—mentally broken. Or, like Irene's brother, never being able to use the Spirit Eye again. In the worst case… he could die."

You Ling: "Ah, so that's what you mean."

You Ling shook his head with a complicated expression.

His dormmate, Aisha Youna Carlos, was a hopelessly kindhearted idiot.

He had known this for a long time.

But he hadn't expected her to be this foolish.

That [Monster Reborn] was an incredibly valuable tradeable card. Even if exchanged for Spell Points, it would be worth 100 points.

Not to mention, as a tradeable card, it could be directly sold for a hefty sum—enough to help with some of the Carlos family's financial troubles.

Yet, despite this golden opportunity, Aisha Carlos's first thought was about someone else's safety.

To be blunt, what did a stranger's life or death matter to her? Wasn't a rare card more important?

Seeing You Ling shaking his head, Aisha panicked.

Aisha: "Ah… I'm sorry, Mr. You Ling. That was too much to ask. You risked your life to win this card, and I really don't have the right to make such a request. I'm sorry… Just forget I said anything."

You Ling: "No… In this duel, it wasn't just me who risked my life. You did too, Aisha. You have the right to decide. So, the choice is yours."

With that, You Ling performed Soul Exchange, returning control of Aisha's body to her.

Feeling her consciousness returning, Aisha blankly stared at the [Monster Reborn] card in her hand.

A month ago, she wouldn't have dared to even dream of owning such a rare card.

And now, You Ling had left the choice to her.

Whether to keep this card—a card that would greatly strengthen her future duels.

Even though it originally belonged to someone else.

Even though it came from the darkness.

As long as it was a tradeable card, she and You Ling could use it justifiably—using power that came from the darkness.

"If you abandon your initial kindness… it will make you stronger. Would you do it?"

Yes or No?

Not only did You Ling let her make the choice, but Aisha also felt as if she was being directly questioned by the depths of the Millennium Puzzle itself.

"Sorry, You Ling, this time I was being willful."

Her fair fingertips loosened, releasing the precious rare card, which drifted to the ground. At the moment she let go of the card, a man who was watching from the shadows—one who also possessed a Millennium Puzzle—curved his lips into a satisfied smile.

Having made a decision of her own, Aisha asked anxiously, "By choosing to give up a rare card, to give up the chance to become stronger, as a duelist, have I disappointed you, You Ling?"

"No, you've made me see you in a new light."

"(・◇・)?Huh?" Aisha almost thought she had misheard.

This was You Ling's true feeling.

"If what was laid before you just now was a fork in the road between darkness and light, then without a doubt, you chose to walk toward the light. That is neither shameful nor foolish."

This kindness, a light hidden deep within the girl's heart that would not be devoured by the temptations of the Shadow Game, was the most precious thing of all.

Yes, more precious than any rare card.

Perhaps, seeing the purest kindness in Aisha Carlos's heart was the very reason why Irena chose to step in at a critical moment.

"This duel—you won, Aisha."

If You Ling's victory was over the darkness within the duel, then Aisha's victory was over the darkness within the human heart.

This was a darkness even You Ling could not completely cast aside.

"As for rare cards, as long as you're willing to work for them, you'll obtain more sooner or later."

Compared to a temporary power boost gained from winning a rare card in a Shadow Game, this light that could illuminate the darkness was what would truly make her stronger.

At this moment, in the "Millennium Scales" located at Starlight Academy, the balance tilted slightly to the right.

The legendary Millennium Item, said to measure the good and evil of souls, took this moment as a turning point, delivering a message to the soul of the nameless pharaoh.