Struck by the ferocious punch, Lei’s body shot backward and slammed hard against the stone stele behind him.
With the duel concluded, the Animated Dummy dissolved into light after delivering the most glorious blow of its existence.
“Thank you… Animated Dummy.”
Tidris gazed at the wooden dummy smiling brightly and waving from the card illustration, silently offering her gratitude.
“Ugh…”
On the other side, Lei struggled upright, rolled over, and leaned against the stele, gasping heavily.
“Cough… You win. Go ahead and leave.”
Tidris stepped forward, looking down at him.
Perhaps still awaiting the answer she sought, her expression remained calm—almost cold.
“You still haven’t told me about my parents.”
Lei shook his head weakly. “I don’t know… *They* said this reason would lure you in.”
Maybe disheartened by defeat, or simply freed from the deck’s emotional influence now that the duel had ended, Lei sounded oddly serene.
“*They*?” Tidris seized the word. “Who are ‘they’? Members of the Demonology Sect?”
“Miss Tidris certainly knows her stuff,” a flippant voice cut in.
Tidris spun around—two more hooded figures stood there.
The speaker gestured to himself, then to his tall companion. “I’m Xever. This is my partner, Anya. Teaching assistants of the Demonology Sect.”
“Skip the pleasantries, Xever. Get to the point,” Anya snapped.
“Alright, alright.” Xever raised a placating hand, then turned to Tidris. “My partner’s impatient. So let’s be direct.”
He drew a card case from his robe.
“Sorry—but even though you won, we can’t let you walk away.”
“Duel me again. Win, and I’ll tell you everything.”
“Wait! Cough—” Lei pushed himself up. “We had a deal! They’re *my* targets—”
Anya cut him off. “Don’t be naive, Lei Norflin. Do you really think you have any leverage now?”
She stomped lightly. A crushing aura pressed down—vanishing only after Lei’s eyes rolled back and he slumped unconscious.
“Your punishment awaits back at the Sect,” Xever chuckled. “Just internal matters. My apologies for the scene. So—decided yet?”
Tidris eyed them both. “How do I trust you’ll keep your word? You already broke your deal with Lei.”
“Simple. A wager neither side can break.” Xever produced a serpentine Ritual Dagger.
“This initiates a Dark Duel. Swear the oath—and breaking it sacrifices your soul to demons. The duel ends only when one pays that price.”
He paused, grinning slyly at her. “Oh—and to prove I’m not bluffing? Partial payment upfront: your parents are alive. Trapped, but alive. Win, and I reveal the location. Lose? Just wait here for your shopkeeper to ransom you.”
“Sufficient sincerity, Miss Tidris? Or walk away now.”
Tidris met the dagger’s ominous gleam with steady calm.
“So this trap was tailored to my nature from the start?”
With a flick of her wrist, her deck soared upward, hovering under the Spark Core’s glow.
“Wipe that smug look off your face. I accept.”
She had no choice. For her parents. For Simon.
“Duel!”
“Duel!”
Darkness surged across the arena. A whisper slithered into Tidris’s ear: *Contract sealed.*
Anya leaned against a tree, arms crossed, watching with bored indifference.
Both drew five cards. Xever glanced at his hand. “You lead, Miss Tidris. As a Grade C Duelist, I yield the first turn.”
Tidris didn’t hesitate. “Summon Netherworld Disciple. Summon Demonbane Warrior.”
The two veterans materialized. She pointed. “Attack.”
Reckless? Yes—but against a Grade C opponent with superior cards, hesitation meant defeat.
“My, such aggression!” Xever summoned calmly. “Summon Death Knight.”
[Death Knight ★★★★★ (Five Stars) Grade B]
[Undead 6/6]
A headless steed charged forth, rider brandishing a curved blade.
Just before impact, Xever’s voice cut through: “Death Knight’s effect: before attacking, deal damage equal to its ATK to one non-Undead target.”
A blade flashed behind Demonbane Warrior’s head.
“Sinister Slash!”
“Activate magic: Celestial Shield!”
[Celestial Shield ★★★ (Three Stars) Grade D]
“Nullify all damage from an Undead creature to Demonbane Warrior!”
*Clang!*
The blade struck golden light.
“Tch. Luminous Order card?” Xever smirked. “They hand those out like candy. Not even restricted.”
“But useless.”
Though blocked, Death Knight’s follow-up cleaved Demonbane Warrior down. In return, Netherworld Disciple and his fallen comrade toppled the knight.
A fair trade.
Just as Tidris exhaled relief—
“Oops. Forgot Death Knight’s second effect.”
The fallen knight rewound mid-air, remounting his steed, blade snapping back to hand.
“Pay five temporary mana: revive for five seconds.”
*Damn it!*
“Netherworld Disciple—dodge!”
Too late. Rules were absolute.
Sinister Slash split the disciple in two from behind.
Then—Death Knight’s hollow gaze locked onto Tidris.
“Oh, and by the way?” Xever’s lazy tone drifted over. “Sinister Slash works on duelists too.”
