“Why’s Ti acting so weird today?”

Verona tilted her head after hearing Tidris’s declaration onstage, her gaze drifting toward Simon now and then.

As Ti’s close friend, she knew the girl had always felt a little insecure about ranking dead last.

But now? Ti wasn’t just confident—there was even a trace of wildness in her every move.

Could this man have taught her this too?

While Verona’s mind wandered, the duel had already begun.

Both duelists’ decks hovered midair. Five cards popped from each library top, while ten mana crystals, glowing with energy, materialized at their sides.

After a quick glance at her hand, Tidris flicked a card forward.

“Summon: Demonbane Warrior.”

[Demonbane Warrior ★★★★ (4-Star) Grade C] [Human, ATK: 4, HP: 6]

Once the duel commenced, the Duelist’s Spark Core transformed into an organ-like power source, materializing cards into reality.

A heavily armored warrior—glaive in hand, winged helmet on head—kneeled before Tidris.

Fully summoned, he rose swiftly and charged toward Lei with thundering steps.

Simultaneously, four of Tidris’s mana crystals dimmed to gray, locked.

Followers occupied mana capacity equal to their star count; even upon death, it wouldn’t restore. Field magic worked the same.

Tidris’s current mana cap now stood at six.

“So she actually summoned a decent follower this time?” Lei shot the Demonbane Warrior a mildly surprised glance.

Arrogant as he was, Lei knew pride came before a fall. He always researched opponents beforehand.

That’s why he’d dismissed Tidris’s deck as a waste of time—yet here was an unexpected surprise.

“But useless! Field Magic: [Mana Tide]!”

[Mana Tide ★★★ (3-Star) Grade C]

Lei slammed the card down with a roar. A five-meter-radius magic circle flared to life.

Three of his mana crystals instantly grayed out.

“While [Mana Tide] is active, my mana regen increases by 50%! And since it’s 3-star field magic, my cap drops to seven.”

Boosted, Lei went all out, slapping down two spells.

“Take out your follower first! [Chain Fireballs]! [Magic Arrow]!”

[Chain Fireballs ★★★ (3-Star) Grade D] [Deals 2 damage to any target twice]

[Magic Arrow ★★★ (3-Star) Grade D] [Deals 4 damage to any target]

Two fist-sized fireballs and a white arrow shot toward the Demonbane Warrior. Explosions kicked up dust—but to Lei’s shock, the warrior burst through the smoke, unbroken.

“How?!”

—Nothing impossible. The Demonbane Warrior slammed his raised glaive down. Lei’s HP dropped by four.

Lei staggered from the impact, then noticed the warrior’s remaining 1 HP.

“I see… This follower reduces magic damage taken, right?”

“Guess~”

Silent until now, Tidris clasped her hands behind her back, flashing a mysterious smile. In her heart, she gave Simon—watching from the sidelines—a thumbs-up.

*Manager, hiding card effects is seriously the best!*

Having landed the hit, Tidelys didn’t press forward. She recalled the Demonbane Warrior to her half.

In duels, a Duelist could recall their own followers endlessly—and play a healing spell.

This healing card wasn’t bought from Simon, so it was only a pitiful Grade E. After spending six mana, it barely restored the warrior’s HP.

“Demonbane Warrior—attack again!”

The warrior charged. With Lei’s mana exhausted, he reached him unimpeded.

Just as he swung—

“Get back! [Repelling Fire Ring]!”

A fiery ring erupted from Lei, hurling the warrior away—harmlessly.

This card was purely for stalling. Lei never thought he’d need it… yet here it was, buying precious seconds.

“Use *that* card? No… can’t.”

While the warrior flew back, Lei stared at a card in his hand. Every time he considered playing it, Tidris’s pre-duel words flashed in his mind.

Finally, he reached for another.

“[Lightning Spear]! Seven damage to the Demonbane Warrior—die!”

Lightning crackled in Lei’s grip like a thunder god’s wrath.

As he hurled it, Tidris nervously brushed a fingertip against a card.

*According to Manager… this should be it…*

“Activate Field Magic: [Demon-Repelling Aura]. All allied followers reduce magic damage taken by one.”

[Demon-Repelling Aura ★★★ (3-Star) Grade D]

Field magic triggered instantly—so Tidelys didn’t hide its effect. Yet this honesty only enraged Lei further.

Damn it!

He watched helplessly as the lightning spear pierced the warrior… yet left it with a sliver of HP. His composure shattered.

It wasn’t about broken cards. He finally realized: Tidris’s entire deck was built to counter *him*.

The students in the stands perked up.

Sheltered in the academy’s ivory tower, they dueled “honorably”—same deck, no tweaks, against anyone.

But Tidelys (Simon) just showed them another path: *“Instead of boosting yourself, target your opponent.”*

How underhanded!

Lei gritted his teeth. If this scheming strategy spread, the damage to first-years would be immeasurable!

Then he saw Tidelys heal the warrior remotely while patting her chest: “Phew, that was close!”

His fists clenched tighter.

“You calculated *everything*—and still play dumb?! I admit it… I underestimated you, Tidelys!”

“Huh?” Tidelys tilted her head, genuinely confused.

*What’s Lei been muttering about this whole time?*