"He appeared—the Dark Magician!!"
"That's our Bredt Kingdom's guardian spirit, the Dark Magician! He's so cool!"
"As expected of Her Highness the Grand Princess—summoning a 2800 Attack monster and then the Dark Magician all in one turn! There's no way that Vice President from Starlink Academy can win now!"
"Go, Your Highness!"
With the Dark Magician's arrival, the atmosphere of the arena reached its peak. Among the crowd, students from Starlink Academy and Imperial Academy exchanged puzzled looks. They noticed that not only the students of Saint Fusion Academy, but even some instructors and professors, looked thrilled at the sight of the Dark Magician.
It was almost as if they were… fans meeting their idol.
Perhaps those from Starlink and Imperial Academies couldn't truly understand the people of Saint Fusion Academy—or rather, the depth of the Bredt Kingdom's affection for this spirit.
In the Bredt Kingdom, there were three Guardian Spirits: Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Dark Magician, and Red-Eyes Black Dragon.
Among them, only the Dark Magician took a human form. That alone made him far more beloved by the people than the other two.
Secondly, everyone in this world who possessed magic power—every Duelist—was broadly categorized as a "Magician." Their ranks—Magician, Magus, Sage—reflected that magical hierarchy.
Thus, the one revered as the strongest magician, wielder of the most powerful black magic and forbidden spells, naturally became an icon among those who called themselves Magicians.
And finally, compared to the once-in-a-century Blue-Eyes White Dragon, or the seldom-seen yet unremarkable Red-Eyes Black Dragon, the Dark Magician had left behind countless tales and legends in the Bredt Kingdom and across the continent. Generations of citizens had grown up hearing his stories.
He was said to have defeated evil dragons, saved kingdoms, judged the wicked, reversed the downfall of nations, and befriended countless spirits across realms. Many Duelists even claimed to have heard from their partner spirits that they once fought beside the Dark Magician.
Some said he had gained new powers through their aid—and those spirits spoke of it with pride.
With such renown spanning both human and spirit worlds—and with the kingdom's people raised on his legend—the Dark Magician's popularity in the Bredt Kingdom was beyond measure.
On the field, Sera smiled faintly at the students' cheers. Even she couldn't deny the pride she felt in being the one chosen to command the legendary Dark Magician.
Then she raised her voice. "At this moment, the other effect of the Continuous Spell Card Dark Magical Circle activates! Dark Magical Circle, one of the Dark Magician's most powerful spells, manipulates space itself!
"The effect of Dark Magical Circle: once per turn, when a Dark Magician is Normal or Special Summoned to your field, you can target 1 card your opponent controls and banish it!"
Sera pointed toward Arella's field. "Your monster may be immune to destruction effects—but banishment is another matter entirely! Dark Magician, send Diamond Bell into another dimension!"
At her command, the Dark Magician raised his obsidian staff. The black-and-blue gem at its tip gleamed, and the golden magic circle above began to rotate. A black-golden radiance condensed at its center.
The magician swung his staff, and a beam of dark light shot forth, piercing through space itself. In the blink of an eye, the light engulfed Windwitch - Diamond Bell.
When the glow faded, Diamond Bell was gone—banished beyond dimensions by the might of the Dark Magical Circle.
Arella stared, astonished by the sheer power of the Dark Magician. A single Spell Card that could search, rearrange, and banish? "As expected of the Dark Magician," she thought in awe.
"But… it's not over yet."
Her eyes flicked to her remaining Windwitch - Winter Bell. The Duel hadn't entered the Battle Phase yet, which meant her monster's hidden protection hadn't been revealed.
One of Windwitch - Freeze Bell's effects: if it's used as Synchro Material for a WIND Synchro Monster, that monster cannot be destroyed by battle.
When Arella Synchro Summoned both Diamond Bell and Winter Bell, she had used Freeze Bell each time. That meant both possessed battle destruction immunity.
Diamond Bell had boasted immunity to both battle and effect destruction—but Sera's banishing spell circumvented that entirely.
Still, Sera hadn't realized Winter Bell's battle protection. And since Arella had summoned it in Defense Position to be safe, she believed she had the upper hand. "If Sera attacks and finds Winter Bell can't be destroyed," she thought, "then on my turn, I'll strike back and turn this Duel around."
Unfortunately for her, she had underestimated the Dark Magician's power.
Sera revealed the Spell Card she had previously searched with Dark Magical Circle. "I activate the Spell Card Bond Between Teacher and Student! If I control a Dark Magician, I can Special Summon 1 Dark Magician Girl from my hand, Deck, or Graveyard. Then, I can Set 1 of the following directly from my Deck: Dark Burning Attack, Dark Burning Magic, or Dark Magic Twin Burst!"
"I Special Summon the great magician's only apprentice—Dark Magician Girl!"
The golden circle began to spin once more, gathering magical energy at its core. A moment later, a pink-gold magic seal bloomed within it, and from the light emerged a petite, curvaceous magician with golden hair, holding a short staff of blue and gold.
[Dark Magician Girl] Level 6│DARK│Spellcaster│2000 ATK
"The follow-up effect of Bond Between Teacher and Student—I add the Spell Card Dark Burning Attack from my Deck to my hand!"
Sera drew a card and revealed it. "Then, I activate the Spell Card Dark Burning Attack! This is the ultimate spell learned by the Dark Magician Girl, the apprentice of the Dark Magician—it holds the power to annihilate all monsters!"
Arella's heart skipped a beat. "No way… that card's effect is…!?"
"The effect of Dark Burning Attack—this card can only be activated while I control Dark Magician Girl. Destroy all face-up monsters your opponent controls!" Sera pointed toward Arella's remaining monster, Windwitch - Winter Bell. "Reduce her defenses to ashes, Dark Magician Girl—Dark Burning Attack!!"
"Haa—haaa!!"
The adorable magician girl clasped her staff with both hands, channeling her full magical power. A black-and-red magic sphere formed at the tip, crackling with arcs of black lightning.
The sphere fired with a thunderous boom, striking Arella's field. A violent storm of dark magic engulfed the Monster Zone, erasing everything within it—including Windwitch - Winter Bell, once thought to be her last line of defense.
In just one turn, all of Arella's preparations were destroyed by Grand Princess Sera. And it was clear Sera hadn't even gone all out yet—she still had at least two unknown cards in her hand, and her two Set cards in the back row remained unrevealed.
Arella, however, now had nothing left. Her monsters were gone, her Spell and Trap Cards obliterated, and only one card remained in her hand.
Albeit what could a single card do?
Everyone watching knew the answer: the Duel was already decided.
Sera raised her voice. "Battle Phase! Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl—direct attack! Dark Magic Twin Burst!!"
The master and apprentice crossed their staffs, intertwining red and black energies. A swirling orb of black-violet magic wrapped in bolts of darkness formed between them.
Together, they unleashed it—the blast streaked across the field toward Arella.
Seeing it, Arella gave a faint, resigned smile. In her hand, she looked at her last card—Windrose the Elemental Lord, her ultimate trump card, the source of her confidence in her Wind Deck.
[Windrose the Elemental Lord] Level 8│WIND│Winged Beast│2800 ATK / 2200 DEF
Cannot be Normal Summoned. Must be Special Summoned if you have 5 WIND monsters in your Graveyard.
(1): When this card is Special Summoned, destroy all Spell and Trap Cards your opponent controls.
(2): If this face-up card leaves the field, skip your next Battle Phase.
It was a card worthy of pride. To be recognized by the elemental deity of wind itself was proof of Arella's talent.
Originally, she had planned to endure until the next turn and use Windros's power to wipe out Sera's Spell and Trap Cards. Against a deck centered on magic like the Dark Magician's, that would have greatly weakened her. If she could then draw one more card that inflicted damage, she might still have won.
But now… she realized how naïve that thought was. The Dark Magician's strength was beyond comprehension… and the woman named Sera Bredt had long surpassed anything Arella imagined.
After all, a sixteen-year-old Archmagus at peak power… how could that possibly be human?
That thought flashed through her mind as the black-violet blast struck her directly.
BOOM!!!
"Ahhh!!"
The explosion roared like a thunderstorm. The dark energy engulfed Arella entirely, and her scream echoed through the arena.
"Vice President!!"
"President Arella!"
"Arella-onee-sama!!"
The students of Starlink Academy jumped to their feet, ready to rush down from the stands—
Abruptly, then, before they could, a pale-blue magic barrier suddenly appeared, shielding Arella from the storm and preventing fatal injury.
All eyes turned toward the source of the spell. Not far away stood Headmaster Aleister Bredt, one finger raised, a blue glow shimmering at his fingertip.
"Hehehe… As expected of our Bredt Kingdom's Grand Princess. To possess such power at your age—it humbles even me! When I was your age, I was nowhere near as strong. Sera, you make me proud—not just as Headmaster of Saint Fusion Academy, but as your great-grandfather."
Hearing those words, Sera smiled softly and bowed. "Thank you for your guidance, Great-Grandfather."
"It was simply my duty," Aleister chuckled.
Then his gaze deepened. "The power of the Starlayer, hm? The strength of the Zodiac Guardians has evolved into this form after so many years… truly beyond my expectations. You've gained the recognition of three of them already—that alone is an incredible achievement. I look forward to the day you fully awaken that power. Perhaps it will be the key that leads you to the realm of the Great Sage."
Even Sera's eyes wavered at those words. But Aleister continued, "Of course, never forsake the power of the Dark Magician. With his potential, and your genius, you could still reach the rank of Great Sage even without relying on other powers. It's merely a matter of path and choice."
Sera paused, then nodded solemnly. "Understood, Sera will not forget."
"Good." Aleister smiled and turned toward Arella, still surrounded by the fading magical aura. "Her magic has been sufficiently absorbed—it should be enough to heal her wounds."
With a wave of his hand, the dark-violet storm dissipated. The pale-blue barrier shimmered, its energy transforming into specks of starlight that gently flowed into Arella's body.
Before everyone's eyes, the burns and injuries she had sustained slowly healed.
Arella looked on in astonishment. "A conversion spell? Switching from defense to healing… that barrier was Draining Shield?!"
"That's right," Aleister replied with a laugh. "You've got a sharp eye, girl." Then he asked gently, "Do you have any objections to the outcome of this Duel?"
Arella shook her head with a wry smile. "None at all. A loss is a loss—I admit defeat."
Objections? What could she say? She'd been wiped out in a single turn.
The difference in power was so vast that even jealousy couldn't take root—only awe and admiration.
Still, she couldn't help but wonder: how could Sera, a sixteen-year-old girl, possess such strength?
The peak of Archmagus—that was already the limit of mortal talent. To ascend beyond that to Sage required transcending humanity in some way. And the realm of the Great Sage… it was said only those who had touched divinity itself could reach it.
Thus, in a world where no Sages had appeared and Great Sages stood as national pillars, the peak of Archmagus was the height of mortal power.
For one so young to stand at that summit… it was beyond comprehension.
Regardless, Arella would never know the answer.
Aleister nodded softly. "Then the winner of this Duel—Student Council President of Saint Fusion Academy, the Black Witch—Sera Bredt!"
...
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