"Alicia, let me handle this duel."
Yuui's sudden request caught Alicia by surprise. After all, recently it had always been her taking control in their duels.
Regardless, since Yuui wanted to duel, she had no reason to refuse—in fact, the girl rather missed what it felt like to simply watch from the sidelines.
So, she willingly handed over control of her body, letting Yuui take command.
"Since you wish to face our strongest duelist, allow me to test your strength myself."
As the girl's tone turned cold and composed, everyone from both classes instinctively sensed that something about Alicia had changed. Even Professor Richards's gaze dimmed a little as he looked at her.
However, Lily didn't notice the change at all, or perhaps she simply assumed Alicia was always like this. After all, on the day of the entrance exam, Alicia had also been in this very state when she defeated Kexi.
Soon, the students of Classes E and B stepped aside, clearing the area for the two strongest duelists of their respective classes.
It was immediately obvious that Lily was well-liked among Class B. Her classmates began cheering enthusiastically.
"Do your best, Class Rep!"
"Go, Miss Lily! You're the strongest!"
"Show Class E our true power, Miss Lily!"
"Make that 'Nameless One' witness your strength!"
As for Class E… well, only Carl called out from behind Alicia.
"Come on, Alicia! Show them how strong we are!!"
The rest of Class E shifted awkwardly. They wanted to cheer too, but didn't quite know how. Maybe one day, when they could shout their support without hesitation, that would be the day Alicia was truly accepted by everyone.
On the field, Yuui and Lily both stepped back a few paces, raised their Duel Disks, and shouted in unison:
"Duel!!"
[Alicia (Yuui), LP: 4000]
[Lily, LP: 4000]
Lily glanced at her Duel Disk—she had the first turn. "My turn! Draw!"
After a quick look through her cards, she drew one and declared, "First, I activate the Continuous Spell, Ritual Beast Inheritance!"
As the card slid into her Duel Disk, three spectral beasts—one of flame, one of thunder, and one of water—appeared in shimmering projection around her, each representing a different force of nature.
Seeing this, Yuui's brows furrowed. 'As I thought… It's a Ritual Beast Deck.'
Alicia: "[・ヘ・?] Yuui-san, what are 'Ritual Beasts'?"
Yuui: "Simply put, they're entities that existed in the previous cycle of this world's history. They're divided into 'Spiritual Beasts' and 'Ritual Beast Tamers,' who wield the power of nature itself. The lineage of the Tamers is… not a simple one. I'll explain more another time."
Alicia: "(●ˇ∀ˇ●) I see… for you to say that, they must be something incredible!"
Yuui: "Uh… yeah… something like that."
…In truth, the Duel Terminal world was far stranger than he could explain.
Meanwhile, Lily continued, "Next, I activate the second effect of Ritual Beast Inheritance. Once per turn, I can reveal 1 Ritual Beast monster in my hand, then add 1 Ritual Beast monster of a different Type from my Deck to my hand, and afterward discard 1 card."
"I reveal the Ritual Beast Tamer Lara in my hand!"
A hologram of the card appeared before Yuui—depicting a girl with golden curls and a mint-green battle suit.
"Since Ritual Beast Tamer Lara is a Psychic-Type, I'll add the Pyro-Type Spiritual Beast Apelio from my Deck to my hand, then discard Apelio to the Graveyard."
'Huh???'
Many spectators looked puzzled. She had just searched a card from her Deck only to throw it away immediately. What was the point?
Lily soon gave them the answer.
"I Normal Summon Ritual Beast Tamer Lara!"
Small sparks flickered to life as a cute, somewhat drowsy-looking girl with golden curls appeared, wielding a staff forged from flame crystals and a lion's fang. The orange-red crystal at her hair's tip gleamed brightly.
[Ritual Beast Tamer Lara] Level 1│Psychic│100 ATK / 2000 DEF
Alicia: "!!!∑(゜Д゜ノ)ノ What!? A Level 1 monster with 2000 Defense!? You've got to be kidding me!!"
Yuui narrowed his eyes. "Don't underestimate her. That girl's far more dangerous than something like Clayman."
"I activate Ritual Beast Tamer Lara's effect!" Lily declared. "When this card is Normal Summoned: I can target 1 Ritual Beast monster in my Graveyard and Special Summon it! I choose Spiritual Beast Apelio!"
As her voice fell, Lara raised her staff high and struck the ground with force.
A pillar of fire erupted skyward, accompanied by a young lion's mighty roar.
From the flames stepped a majestic beast, its mane blazing like living fire clouds, an orange-red flame crystal at its throat identical to Lara's.
[Spiritual Beast Apelio] Level 4│Pyro│1800 ATK / 200 DEF
Two monsters now stood on Lily's field. Then she stunned Class E further with her next words:
"Next, I banish Ritual Beast Tamer Lara and Spiritual Beast Apelio to Fusion Summon! Fusion materials: 1 Ritual Beast Tamer monster and 1 Spiritual Beast monster!"
A dark fusion vortex appeared in the sky. Lara and Apelio exchanged one last glance; then Lara leapt gracefully onto the lion's back, and together they charged into the swirling energy.
"O maiden who rides the spirit beasts! With the lion of blazing fire, overcome all hardship and burn away the darkness! Fusion Summon—Roar forth! Ritual Beast Ulti-Apelio!!"
...
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