"Naturia Beast's trait. Activated when a Spell Card is activated. Send 2 cards from the top of my Deck to the Graveyard. If this card exists face-up, that activation is negated and the card destroyed!"
Naturia Beast raised its right claw, made a leap, and tore apart Shaddoll Fusion. Tierra, who'd been preparing to obtain victory through Shaddoll Fusion, contracted her pupils.
"Actually an unlimited Spell negate!?" Almost all the human spectators watching this duel cried out in shock.
Unlimited, any number of Spell cancels!
And it seemed like a Spell counter that could be activated multiple times in the same chain!
Tierra watched the Fusion dissipate. Her expression changed at once.
And the surrounding spirits' discussions grew clearly more heated.
Naturia Beast, Naturia Barkion, Naturia Exterio, three Extra Deck monsters of the Naturia clan that were nauseating enough to make one dizzy!
Sophia took up the top two cards of her Deck and glanced at them.
Avance, Swordsman of the Nekroz. Nekroz Divinemirror.
Once more, she'd gathered Nekroz cards in her Graveyard.
"Additionally, Naturia Mole Cricket's trait. During the opponent's turn's Main Phase, tribute it itself, Special Summon Naturia Camellia from my Deck."
A camellia flower bloomed on Sophia's field.
Naturia Camellia. Level 4, EARTH Attribute, Plant-Type. ATK 1400.
"Activated when Naturia Camellia is Normal Summoned or Special Summoned. Send 1 Naturia card from my Deck to the Graveyard. I send Naturia Sunflower from my Deck to the Graveyard."
Sophia held the card, revealed it, then sent it to the Graveyard.
Only, after Sophia finished her operation, Tierra remained motionless for a long while.
Sophia looked at her, as if into a mirror. After a good while, Tierra suddenly said: "This is... my turn!"
"So what?"
"I've had enough." Tierra's rage soared. The whole world seemed to reflect her rage: thunder, celestial fire, cracking earth. "We are both this world's Star-Creating Goddesses. Why should you monopolize everything!"
"Clearly you want to monopolize everything too!"
"Then why did you tear apart my limbs, my soul!"
"Because even sealed within the Sacred Tree, you didn't slumber quietly!"
"I will never forgive you!"
"I won't forgive you either! You changed my world beyond recognition!"
Tierra glared viciously at Sophia: "My turn belongs solely to me! Don't presume to dictate to me during my turn! Sophia! I've endured you long enough. From the very first turn, you've been moving during my turn!"
"Do you expect me to just sit still and let you win? No such luck!" Sophia refused to yield either. "Your turn, my turn, there's only the turn of combat!"
Tierra's right hand trembled. The surrounding spirits gradually sensed something.
And this, on the human side, quite a few had already realized.
Preferences, abilities, characteristics, these things could barely be discussed. But there were two points on which the two absolutely would not yield.
That was...
The right to decide!
The right to decide "how this world should grow"!
In theory, the two of them should discuss it together, then decide together, and discuss a reasonable design.
And in reality, they had always done exactly that.
Some things Tierra could yield. Some things Sophia didn't mind.
As long as the world evolved positively, they gladly accepted it.
Until one day, they utterly encountered a point they could not peacefully coexist on: how the creatures of this world should be.
Yusei, watching the duel, was the one who understood most, and also the one most dazed.
I see. So between god and god, there are irreconcilable contradictions?
But fortunately, the god of their world didn't have such huge disagreements.
"Naturia Beast is indeed a strong effect. But Sophia, do you think I really fear it?" Tierra opened her Graveyard and took out a card. "I activate the effect of Fire Recovery in the Graveyard. Banish this card from my Graveyard, target 3 FIRE Attribute monsters in my Graveyard or banished zone to activate. Those monsters return to the Deck, and I draw 1 card."
"Have you forgotten, Tierra, Naturia Beast's effect..."
Naturia Beast howled.
"Useless!" Tierra retorted at once. "Naturia Beast's effect is activated when a Spell Card is activated, sending 2 cards from the top of my Deck to the Graveyard. In other words, only at the moment a Spell Card is activated can it launch its effect.
But Spell Cards in the Graveyard, or Spell Cards already existing on the field, they aren't 'activating.' They're using effects!"
What?
Sophia's eyes went wide.
Was there such a distinction!?
"There's such a detail!?" Rin and Yugo cried out.
Many people and spirits cried out together. But some, after this happened, felt astonishment.
Tierra... understood dueling this well?
This was precisely the "dueling knowledge" Tierra had accumulated through long-term coexistence with Hikaru, through immersion, through careful inquiry. Tierra was no longer that god who understood nothing at the start, but a genuine "warrior" capable of dueling with many people.
And this was precisely the "gap" between Sophia and Tierra.
"I recycle three Infernoid soldiers, draw 1 card."
Tierra drew, glanced, and gave a cold snort.
Spell Card, can't use it.
But...
She looked at the field.
"I activate the function of the Continuous Spell Card Void Imagination on the field.
Send this face-up card in the Spell/Trap zone to the Graveyard to activate. Using monsters from my hand or field as Fusion Materials, Fusion Summon 1 Infernoid Fusion Monster.
If a monster Special Summoned from the Extra Deck exists on the opponent's field, my Deck can also provide up to 6 Fusion Materials."
"Deck Fusion!?"
"There's actually Deck Fusion too."
"And because it's a Continuous Spell already activated, this function can't be affected by Naturia Beast!"
"Only, what to Fusion Summon in this situation? Herself?"
The Fusion Dimension classmates discussed heatedly.
If she Fusion Summoned Tierra, the ATK would reach 3400 and easily defeat Naturia Beast, and naturally she could carry out the next round of tactics.
But 6-material Tierra didn't seem to have that invincibility effect.
More importantly, Sophia had no cards in hand at this point.
Tierra opened her Graveyard and checked.
3 Infernoids.
The Infernoids remaining in her Deck numbered 8.
"I send Infernoid Sjette from my Deck and Infernoid Devyaty from my Deck to the Graveyard for a Fusion Summon!"
Only fusing two!?
"Using two monsters as Fusion Material, Fusion Summon, Infernoid Evil!"
Blue flames burned out from the cracking earth. A demon burning with blue raging fire flew out from within.
Infernoid Evil. Level 1, FIRE Attribute, Fiend-Type. ATK 1100.
"Infernoid Evil's function. When this card is Fusion Summoned, banish 1 Infernoid monster from my Graveyard to activate. Send from my Deck to the Graveyard a number of Infernoid monsters with different names equal to that monster's Level. In this case, only 1 card with the same name at most."
"Well then, Naturia Camellia's trait. Activated when the opponent Normal Summons or Special Summons a monster. Special Summon 1 Naturia monster from my Graveyard. I Special Summon Naturia Sunflower! And don't forget, there's also Naturia Mole Cricket. It can also be revived from the Graveyard!
This is the reincarnation and renewal of nature!"
Naturia Sunflower. Level 2, EARTH Attribute, Plant-Type. ATK 500.
Tierra, cold-faced, took Sjette from the Graveyard: "I banish Level 6 Sjette, sending the remaining 6 Infernoid monsters from my Deck to the Graveyard!"
"Ah, I see. If she fused Tierra herself, she could only fuse 6 cards. Using Evil, she can send all 8 Infernoids in the Deck to the Graveyard!" Jaden suddenly understood.
"This person is actually rather formidable." Yubel sighed.
Tierra sent all the remaining Infernoids from her Deck to the Graveyard. Then, she gently flicked her left hand and said: "Sophia, I'm going to kill you."
"Then come."
"Infernoid Nehemoth in the Graveyard, banish Pirmais, Antra, Lucifuge in the Graveyard, Special Summon!"
The crimson demon appeared once more.
"Activate its ability. Activated when this card is Special Summoned. Destroy all other monsters on the field!"
Such a powerful effect!
Direct field wipe!
Many spirits were greatly astonished.
"Naturia Sunflower's trait. When the opponent activates a monster effect, tribute this card and 1 Naturia monster on my field to activate. That activation is negated and the card destroyed!" Sophia flipped a hand and pointed at her own field. "Also, with Naturia Camellia on the field, once per turn I have one chance. When one of my Naturia monsters' effects is activated by tribute, I can send the top 2 cards of my Deck to the Graveyard.
Tierra, I studied dueling later than you, but I only need to stop your operations!"
The small Sunflower faced forward. Divine light covered its body, letting it erupt with immense power.
"Send the top 2 cards of my Deck to the Graveyard. Negate your Nehemoth's effect and destroy it!"
Natural plants entwined Nehemoth's body, crushing everything!
Rumble.
The mechanical structure, blue raging fire shattered, fell to the earth, ignited behind Tierra. She looked coldly at Sophia, unconcerned with the surroundings, appearing all the more terrifying, all the more majestic.
Countless spirits dared not speak again. In hushed silence, they quietly retreated.
Sophia looked at the two cards sent to the Graveyard. Nekroz Kaleidoscope. Exa, Enforcer of the Nekroz.
"Send Astaroth, Asmodeus, Baal in the Graveyard for re-launch. Return once more from death!
The reincarnation of machinery!
Infernoid Nehemoth!"
"Roooar!"
The crimson demon rose again from the Graveyard. That searing raging fire seemed capable of crushing all things!
The mechanical demon just moments ago shattered, in an instant, had regained vitality once more. And in the first moment of resurrection, it was already about to vent its rage anew!
"Nehemoth's function, activated on Special Summon. All other monsters on the field are destroyed!"
"Then again, Naturia Sunflower tributes itself and Naturia Mole Cricket, negate your monster's effect and destroy it!"
The mechanical structure fell among the mountains, fell at the spirits' feet. Their faces were pale as they watched this terrifying scene.
Half of this world's sky was now completely shrouded in blue raging fire. Almost all the spirits under this sky felt suffocation and searing heat. But along with the suffocation came rage!
"Third time!"
Third time!
Gulp.
Many people and spirits instinctively swallowed.
They all knew what Tierra meant by "third time"!
"Send Decatron, Adramelech, Lilith in the Graveyard for re-launch!"
Kaka-ka.
Ding-ding-ding.
The metal began wildly "reversing."
As if time were flowing backward, the metal continuously recombined.
The crimson demon returned once more!
Infernoid Nehemoth!
Infernoid Nehemoth. Level 10, FIRE Attribute, Fiend-Type. ATK 3000!
"Nehemoth's function. Destroy all monsters on the field other than itself!"
This time, no one could stop Tierra!
Blue raging fire burned the plants, burned the rocks, burned the insects, burned the beasts, even burned the demons around itself!
"...Tierra, this is what I hate about you most."
"..."
"To achieve your own goal, you'll even destroy your own things, just to keep me from succeeding."
"Life and death are merely states of the cycle. You and I should know this most clearly of all. So long as the goal is achieved, what does mere death matter?"
Sophia didn't retort.
Because Tierra had always been like this in her memory.
But somehow, after Tierra finished saying this, she herself grew a bit dazed involuntarily.
Could she still uphold this?
She dared not think further.
"Evil's ability. Activated when this card is sent to the Graveyard or banished. Add 1 Void Spell/Trap Card from my Deck to my hand."
On Tierra's body, bright blue raging fire gradually burned. A card automatically shot out, then automatically fell to the ground.
"Void breach, launch!"
She spread both hands, activating the high-tier divine art.
"So long as this card exists on the field, my Infernoid monsters' ATK rises by 100 for each banished Infernoid monster!"
"ATK rises?"
"How many were banished?"
"She revived 3 times, 3 each time, plus the one Evil banished, total 10!"
Ten, that's 1000 points!
Nehemoth's ATK would reach 4000!
Just enough for a direct win!
"Nehemoth, go, direct attack." Tierra commanded Nehemoth.
Sophia, seeing this, opened her Set card: "Trap Card, Wall of Disruption. Activated when the opponent's monster declares an attack. All Attack Position monsters on the opponent's field lose 800 ATK for each monster on the opponent's field.
You only have 1, so it decreases by 800.
Or are you going to activate Nehemoth's effect?"
That was absolutely impossible.
For Sophia, what she most wanted to see was undoubtedly Tierra tributing Nehemoth and attacking directly.
But clearly, such a fortunate turn wouldn't easily occur.
An enormous purple ravine split the entire dueling arena into two halves. Thus the earth, the sky, the ocean, everything, was cut apart into two halves.
The two stood on either side of the Wall of Disruption, gazing at each other wordlessly.
Boom!
Raging fire slammed into Sophia's body. Her body absorbed the blow. Her outer form began to fracture, revealing her innermost essence. That pure white and pitch-black power stunned countless spirits into a daze.
Sophia, LP: 4000 → 800.
"End battle. Activate Void Breach's function. If I control no monsters or only Fiend monsters, I can activate its ability. I select 1 of my banished Infernoid monsters and add it to my hand.
I add Decatron to my hand, then Summon it in Defense Position."
Infernoid Nehemoth, ATK: 3200 → 3100.
Tierra looked at the other cards in her hand.
"End turn."
After Tierra's turn ended, Sophia drew a card from her Deck.
She looked at the cards in her hand and pondered a moment.
"The trait of Nekroz Cycle in the Graveyard. If I control no monsters, banish 1 Nekroz monster from my Graveyard and this card to activate. Add 1 Nekroz Spell Card from my Deck to my hand. I add Nekroz mirror to my hand.
Also, Nekroz Divinemirror's trait. Similarly banishing Nekroz monsters in the Graveyard, add 1 Nekroz Kaleidoscope from my Deck to my hand."
"Normal Summon, Emilia, Dance Priestess of the Nekroz."
Emilia, Dance Priestess of the Nekroz. Level 4, WATER Attribute, Spellcaster-Type. ATK 1600.
The red-haired figure appeared on Sophia's field. This monster's outer form was the form she'd borrowed to conveniently move about the human world.
"Activated when this card is Normal or Special Summoned. Add 1 Nekroz Ritual Monster or 1 Nekroz Spell Card from my Deck to my hand. I add Nekroz of Trishula to my hand."
"Activate Ritual Spell Card, Nekroz Kaleidoscope!"
"Nehemoth's ability. Tribute Decatron, negate your effect and banish."
Tierra looked at that Ritual Spell Card and said calmly.
She'd originally intended to save Nehemoth's effect for a more useful moment, but it looked like if she didn't use it now, she wouldn't get the chance.
"Then, Nekroz Kaleidomirror!"
Sophia activated her second Ritual Spell Card.
"When Emilia on the field is used in the Ritual Summon of 1 Nekroz Ritual Monster, she can be used as the number of Tributes required for the Ritual Summon. I tribute Emilia and Ritual Summon."
"Nekroz of Trishula."
Ling-ling.
Frost descended.
Cold winds swept up water vapor and transformed into silver-white ice armor. A warrior clad in ice armor slowly appeared on the field.
Some Ice Barrier spirits couldn't help crying out in terror. The next second, realizing it wasn't "Trishula" itself, they finally calmed down.
Nekroz of Trishula. Level 9, WATER Attribute, Warrior-Type. ATK 2700.
"Activated when Nekroz of Trishula is Ritual Summoned. Banish 1 card each from the opponent's hand, field, and Graveyard, 3 cards total."
Tierra squinted at Sophia, saying nothing, but the frost had already foretold everything.
Even Nehemoth, so powerful a demon, or Decatron in the graveyard, or Tierra's hand card, could not avoid being shrouded in the frozen ice.
Snap.
"Nekroz of Trishula, direct attack."
Nekroz of Trishula's attack was no less than Nehemoth's. Deathly frozen cold shrouded Tierra, and her outer form also changed. She shook her head, adjusted her state, grew taller, more like a "living being."
Tierra, LP: 3800 → 1100.
"...End turn."
Sophia said calmly.
The current situation, for Tierra, looked rather bad.
Because all her high-Level demons had been banished. Next turn, even Void Breach could only recover low-Level demons to Special Summon for defense, otherwise she'd be directly attacked by Nekroz of Trishula and lose the duel.
But...
Tierra had an inexplicable feeling.
Victory.
This feeling wasn't unfamiliar...
No.
Putting it that way might be a little too pretentious.
Better to say, this feeling she'd seen many times, so it wasn't unfamiliar.
That was...
The self-confidence she'd felt on Hikaru.
That was a duelist's self-confidence, the strongest Fusion user's self-confidence, the self-confidence in battle of a duelist who pursued Fusion.
That was the aura only a "true duelist" possessed.
In this duel, what was most crucial for her?
Higher power than Sophia?
No. There was no reason for that, because even being higher than the opponent was meaningless. Whether stacking the graveyard or drawing cards, they could both do it perfectly in a duel, both perfectly obtain the cards they wanted.
Earlier awakening than Sophia?
No... Although awakening earlier than Sophia, encountering dueling earlier, that gap was minuscule given the card quality. Because their "decks" weren't decks normal humans would use, nor were they cards those single-clan spirits could use.
Power itself was the name of a god!
What truly put her ahead of Sophia was... "understanding."
Understanding humans, understanding dueling. That was why she'd been able to analyze Naturia Beast's application in an instant.
This was... the root of why Sophia couldn't catch up to her in a short time.
She understood dueling, and also understood Hikaru.
But this understanding...
Was it "a god's understanding of her kin," or something else?
She, devoted to the cycle of life and death, had come to understand a pure flesh-and-blood body?
That was too ridiculous.
She covered her chest with one hand.
Boom, boom.
Would a mechanical life have a vibrant heart beating?
"My turn, draw." Tierra drew a card from her Deck.
Qliphort Scout!
Hikaru had additionally manufactured two, so her draw rate was astonishing!
She'd won!
"Activate Trap Card, Qlife's End."
"!!"
Everyone who'd watched "Light's" duels understood at this moment what she was about to do.
"After this card is activated, it becomes an Effect Monster and is Special Summoned. When Advance-Summoning an Apoqliphort monster, it Special Summoned by this effect can be tributed as the count of 3.
Set Qliphort Scout in the Pendulum Zone and activate its ability. Pay 800 Basic Points. Add Apoqliphort Towers from my Deck to my hand."
"Materialism?" Sophia sighed a little. "The ecosystem's cycle system."
Tierra looked at the card in her hand.
Not merely a cycle of life, this card itself was also a link of life.
Her life!
"Tribute Qlife's End, Advance Summon, Apoqliphort Towers."
Iridescent light gleamed in the blue sky. That blue flame sky symbolizing Tierra's rage gradually vanished, replaced instead by a rainbow-like sky.
Sophia, seeing this scene, was momentarily stunned.
That Tierra who wouldn't turn back until she'd hit a wall, had actually calmed down?
Tierra took a deep breath.
At this very moment, her heart was shrouded by even more doubts, occupied by even more considerations.
"Apoqliphort Towers's special ability. You must send 1 monster from your hand or field to the Graveyard."
Sophia's field had no other cards. Therefore, Nekroz of Trishula would automatically be sent to the Graveyard to slumber.
Governing life and death — this was Apoqliphort Towers's power.
"Now, my turn, only my word counts!" Tierra repeated once more, then pointed at Sophia. "And this time, I win! Go back and practice another five thousand years!
Apoqliphort Towers, direct attack!"
Apoqliphort Towers's core began to gather light. Then, an iridescent laser cannon pierced through the sky!
Sophia, LP: 800 → 0.
...
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