"Battle continues. B.E.S. Tetran, attack Cyber Tutu!"
The warship roared; four mechanical arms shot out like tentacles at the tiny Tutu. She was nimble—dodging left and right inside their encirclement, planting a foot on one arm to vault, grabbing another to flip, closing in fast, and snapping a kick at the protective layer before the core.
Another boom—the layer blew, backlash flinging Tutu back, and she shattered midair.
[Alexis, LP 1500 → 700]
"But Cyber Tutu's battle also removed a protective layer," Alexis said. "Now Tetran has only one Counter left."
[B.E.S. Tetran, Counters 2 → 1]
"Hmph. One last layer is plenty," Lorenzo snorted.
Which meant unless she attacked and stripped Tetran's last layer next turn, he could use Tetran to remove a Counter to snipe her backrow again, dismantling her defense.
And with Alexis at only 700 LP, attacking carried huge risk.
"My turn ends."
Lorenzo was full of confidence.
"Your LP flickers like a candle in the wind, while my B.E.S. have infinite staying power. Well then, Rhodes—why not abandon futile resistance and surrender to the Society of Light?"
"Society… of Light?" Alexis frowned.
"Indeed," Lorenzo said. "Master Sartorius's Society of Light is the greatest blessing to this academy tainted by darkness! It's our chance to be cleansed and made pure!
I've always thought highly of you, Rhodes. If anyone here deserves the Light's baptism, to be spotless and pure, it's you."
"You're saying things that make no sense…"
Alexis knit her brows.
She didn't fully grasp it, but she could sense something wrong about his aura—a predatory force. Her instincts said that if she lost, the consequences would be dire.
Alexis drew a deep breath.
She had to win, no matter what—and then tell Kira about this.
"My turn. Draw!"
Seeing the card, Alexis's eyes lit up.
This card…
"I activate the Spell 'Preparation of Rites,'" Alexis said. "Add 1 Level 7 or lower Ritual Monster from the Deck to the hand, then add 1 Ritual Spell from the GY to the hand."
She spread her Deck and quickly picked the one she needed.
"I add the Level 5 Ritual Monster 'Cyber Angel Natasha' to my hand."
"Going for Cyber Angels' blitz?" Lorenzo chuckled. "The ritual angels with speed—another ace in your Cyber deck, right?"
Alexis ignored him and continued: "Activate the Ritual Spell 'Machine Angel Ritual'!
Tribute monsters from hand/field whose total Levels equal the Level of the Ritual Monster to Ritual Summon a 'Cyber Angel'."
She revealed two cards at once.
"I tribute the Level 6 'Cyber Angel Benten' from my hand to perform a Ritual Summon!"
Benten appeared and dissolved into motes that scattered.
"O angel of light who holds hidden healing, descend in beauty and grant swift restoration! Ritual Summon—
—Cyber Angel Natasha!"
Benten's offering became a pillar of flame on the altar. Fire roared skyward and burst. Golden lances pierced the clouds, which split as the four-eyed angel descended, half-human half-beast, red cloak billowing.
[Cyber Angel Natasha, ATK 1000]
"A Ritual Monster with only 1000 ATK?" Lorenzo was puzzled.
And in Attack Position, no less…
"When 'Cyber Angel Benten' is tributed, its effect activates," Alexis said. "Add 1 LIGHT Fairy from the Deck to the hand."
She spread her Deck again, drew a card, and revealed it.
"I add 'Cyber Angel Idaten' to my hand."
Then she gestured to the multi-armed angel on the field.
"Natasha's effect activates. Once per turn, target 1 face-up monster I control; I gain LP equal to half that monster's ATK.
I choose 'Cyber Angel Natasha' herself to recover 500 LP—half of 1000."
[Alexis, LP 700 → 1200]
"I set 1 card and end my turn."
"Then it's my turn. Draw!" Lorenzo narrowed his eyes. "The drawback of 'Boss Rush'—while it's on the field, I cannot Normal Summon.
But I don't need to! First, 'B.E.S. Tetran's' monster effect!"
Lorenzo raised his arm high.
"Once per turn, remove 1 Counter to destroy a Spell/Trap on the field!"
He paused, smirking.
"Heh, a 1000-ATK monster in Attack Position, then a set card—might as well write 'trap' on the mat.
If that's all you've got, you underestimate me."
He shouted.
"Let me see what you pinned your hopes on!"
The warship's beam lanced toward her backrow.
"As you wish."
Alexis called out.
"Activate set trap, 'Card of Sacrifice'! If the total ATK of my monsters is lower than the lowest ATK of the opponent's monsters, I draw 2 cards!" (Anime effect)
Lorenzo: "My lowest-ATK monster is 'B.E.S. Tetran'…"
[B.E.S. Tetran, ATK 1800]
Alexis: "And I control only 'Cyber Angel Natasha.'"
[Cyber Angel Natasha, ATK 1000]
"Tetran's ATK is higher than Natasha's, so I draw 2 cards!"
Alexis drew two, then added: "However, the turn I activate 'Card of Sacrifice,' I cannot Normal Summon, Special Summon, or Flip Summon any monsters."
"Tch, just a decoy, huh."
Lorenzo's voice hardened.
"But that means you've got nothing left to save you. Straight to the Battle Phase!
'B.E.S. Blaster Cannon Core,' attack 'Cyber Angel Natasha'!"