The effect of "Infernal Disciple" activates, granting me three temporary mana points.

As the iron hooves of "Death Knight" nearly trampled her, Tidelys urgently flipped a magic card.

"I cast 'Monster Paralysis Spell'!"

Monster Paralysis Spell ★★★★★ (Five Stars) Grade C

The original three mana points, combined with two temporarily generated mana crystals, transformed into a binding curse that froze "Death Knight" in place.

Tidris explained the effect: "Once activated, this spell paralyzes any non-human race minion for five seconds—during which it cannot attack."

This card was Simon’s inspired revision of Lei’s "Human Paralysis Spell," conceived after watching Tidelys and Lei’s first duel.

It covered a wider range of targets, but required two additional mana points.

Xavier actually clapped after seeing Tidris’s counter.

"Oh, not a bad move. By the time 'Monster Paralysis Spell' wears off, 'Death Knight' will have long returned to the graveyard."

Tidris shot him a cold glare. "Is that exaggerated praise meant to provoke me?"

She felt nothing "good" about suffering a four-for-one trade.

Partly because the effect caught her off guard; partly because "Death Knight" vastly exceeded the average power level of Tidris’s deck.

She no longer hoped to win—only to force this man to reveal more intel.

"'Death Knight’s' revival effect triggers only once. We can ignore it now."

Xavier drew a card, then summoned. "Let’s begin round two."

"I summon 'Skeletal Wyrm'."

Skeletal Wyrm ★★★ (Three Stars) Grade B

Undead 4/4

A skeletal dragon with tattered wing membranes clawed its way from the earth.

Shaking off dirt, it let out a low growl toward Tidris.

But Tidris noticed something else.

Her brow furrowed as she stared at the wyrm’s body—over four meters long.

"Why does a three-star minion have such massive size?"

She recalled Shopkeeper Simon and Elder Liszt discussing minion scaling:

In standard duels, oversized minions were compressed. Even the "Envoy of Morowen," whose true form dwarfed mountains, shrank to three or four meters.

So why did this juvenile dragon retain a size rivaling a ten-star minion?

Xavier spread his arms with a grin. "Confused? Because this is a Dark Duel!"

"Demons lifted duel restrictions here—minions return to their true sizes!"

He snapped his fingers.

"'Skeletal Wyrm’s' first effect: Dragon’s Might."

"While it’s on the field, all opponent minions lose 1 attack. Though… there’s nothing left to weaken."

"But since your side is empty now—I won’t hold back. Attack!"

At his command, "Skeletal Wyrm" lunged toward Tidris, thick bony tail whipping behind it.

Though flightless, its restored size made even its crawl terrifyingly swift.

Tidelys had no choice but to play her final trump.

"Cast magic: 'Radiant Judgment'!"

Radiant Judgment ★★★★ (Four Stars) Grade D

After expending her last temporary mana, a blinding light erupted from her card and slammed straight into the wyrm’s skull.

"Deals 3 damage to any minion. Doubles if the target is undead or demonic!"

Xavier snorted. "So many petty tricks."

"Unhappy to see a card from your sworn enemy?" Tidelys shot back with uncharacteristic sharpness.

Years learning from Simon had honed her skill at countering distinctive duelists.

Upon learning her opponent hailed from the Demonology Sect, she’d quietly swapped her entire side deck into her main deck.

Unfortunately, limited funds prevented a dedicated anti-Demonology Sect deck.

"Hmph. You won’t be smiling long."

Xavier’s patience frayed. "'Skeletal Wyrm’s' death effect: Summon X 1/1 Dragon Skeleton Soldiers, where X equals its attack power."

As he spoke, the wyrm’s corpse shattered into four bone-sword-wielding skeletons charging at Tidris.

Is this the end…?

Facing the onslaught, Tidris lowered her hand, ready to concede.

Her last card—"Counter Storm"—could handle the situation, but her mana cap had dropped to three.

And with the skeletons’ attack power, they’d drain Tidelys’s life points long before her next draw.

She’d given everything. No regrets.

Only shame—her boast unfulfilled, dragging Shopkeeper Simon into this…

"You’ve done enough. Leave the rest to me."

At that critical moment, a hand landed firmly on Tidelys’s shoulder.

She recognized the voice without turning.

"Shopkeeper?!"

"Oh?"

Xavier waved—a halt to the skeletons—then studied the newcomer with amused curiosity.

"Shopkeeper Simon… how did you get here?"

"Unimportant." Simon waved casually, as if strolling by. "Your duel looks interesting. Mind if I join?"

"Don’t! Shopkeeper—they lured you here!"

Tidelys reached for Simon’s left hand, then froze. His fist was clenched tight.

Simon’s telltale sign of fury.

"Don’t worry. I’ve got this."

He offered only that quiet reassurance.

Xavier stroked his chin. "Adding you is fine… but why should I agree?"

Simon glanced at Anya leaning against the tree. "I join. You let your partner join. Makes a proper doubles match. Fair?"

"Huh. Intriguing."

Xavier still pondered—until Anya stepped forward. "Agree."

"Fine. Since my partner spoke…" He shrugged. "But we start from the current state."

He gestured to the battlefield, to Tidelys’s and his own mana crystals.

"Fine. I just didn’t expect you’d pride yourself on a tiny advantage over a Grade E duelist."

Xavier’s tone turned icy. "What did you say?"

"Exactly what it sounds like."

Simon released his deck. It hovered midair.

His gaze locked onto the two robed figures—cold as frost.

"A Grade C duelist bullying a Grade E… how shameless."