On the field, after drawing two more cards, Nash gave the newly drawn cards a quick glance, then slid all three into his Duel Disk.
"I Set three cards. Turn end!"
Nash looked toward Alicia. "Alright, I've told you the basic fundamentals of Xyz Summoning. Now let me see how well you understand it. Of course, I'm not saying you can't use your original Fusion Summoning—I just want to see whether you can use Xyz Summoning."
"Mm!" Alicia nodded, then swept her hand forward. "My turn—draw!"
She looked over her hand, then glanced at Nash's field. Alicia revealed a card. "First, I Normal Summon Colonel on C-String."
[Colonel on C-String] Level 4│LIGHT│Warrior│1400 ATK
"Colonel on C-String's effect activates. When this card is Summoned, I can Special Summon up to two Level 4 or lower Warrior monsters with different names from my hand in Defense Position." Alicia revealed two cards. "I Special Summon Elemental HERO Stratos and Elemental HERO Clayman in Defense Position!"
[Elemental HERO Stratos│300 DEF]
[Elemental HERO Clayman│2000 DEF]
"Stratos's effect activates. When this card is Summoned or Special Summoned, I can destroy Spell or Trap Cards on the field up to the number of other HERO monsters I control. Besides Stratos, I have Clayman—so I can destroy one Spell or Trap on the field!"
Alicia pointed toward Nash. "I choose the center Set card in your back row—Windstorm Cyclone!!"
Two teal whirlwinds shot toward Nash's central back row. Seeing this, Nash raised an eyebrow, then waved his hand with mild irritation.
"I activate my Set Counter Trap—Oh F!sh!. By returning 1 of my banished Fish, Sea Serpent, or Aqua monsters to the Deck, the activation of a monster effect is negated and destroyed.
"I return Hammer Shark to the Deck and negate Stratos's effect!"
A hammer-headed shark phantom surged forth, blocking the incoming whirlwinds before crashing into Stratos and shattering him.
"Lucky. She happened to pick his Counter Trap, so he had no choice but to use it," Yuui chuckled.
"Hehe!" Alicia grinned proudly. Then she looked toward Nash and raised her voice. "Nash, now I'll show you—my Xyz Summon!
"I overlay my two Level 4 monsters—Colonel on C-String and Elemental HERO Clayman—and use them to construct an Xyz Network!!"
With Alicia's call, a golden Xyz vortex crackling with starlight appeared on her field. Winds exploded outward, whipping her short golden hair wildly. In that moment, Alicia felt herself starting to like Xyz Summoning.
She lifted her right hand, channeling her magic into the vortex, and shouted:
"Summoning conditions—two Level 4 Warrior monsters! The unrivaled hero born from manga—this is the moment to draw your sword! Xyz Summon! Appear—Comics HERO King Arthur!!"
Clad in shining silver-and-gold armor, with long hair flowing like a battle cloak, effortlessly wielding a massive greatsword larger than a man—he bore the name of a legendary warrior and that of a hero.
Comics HERO King Arthur—appear!
[Comics HERO King Arthur] Rank 4│EARTH│Warrior│2400 ATK│1200 DEF Materials: 2
The black card frame, the stars overwritten by the blackened rank marker—this was an Xyz Summon. This was an Xyz Monster.
Around them, Class E students were impressed to see Alicia complete an Xyz Summon so easily.
But thinking about it, it wasn't all that surprising. As long as you had the Xyz Monster and gathered the required materials on the field while understanding the rules, you could naturally perform an Xyz Summon.
Albeit the important part wasn't the summoning method—rather, it was how to use the summoned monster.
Alicia studied King Arthur's effect for a moment, then glanced at Nash's Set cards. She raised her hand. "Battle Phase! Go, King Arthur! Attack Shark Drake—Heroic Sword Strike!!"
"Attacking a stronger monster with a weaker one!?"
"She must have a plan. Alicia wouldn't just throw the duel like that!"
"It's an Xyz Monster after all… I suddenly want to see what it'll do!"
Seeing Alicia order King Arthur to charge toward Shark Drake in a seemingly suicidal attack, the students didn't panic—they instead began to speculate on King Arthur's effect.
After over a month at the academy, under instructors' teaching and class discussions, they were no longer the kind of students who would mock such a move without thinking.
On the other side of the field, Nash nodded slightly. "You've correctly figured out how to use King Arthur's Xyz Effect. Not bad. But I also know his effect very well… so if that's all you've got, it won't be enough.
"I activate my Set Trap—Poseidon Wave! When your opponent declares an attack, negate that attack. If I control any face-up Fish, Sea Serpent, or Aqua monsters, you take 800 damage for each."
A towering tidal wave burst forth, halting King Arthur's attack. Riding atop the wave, Nash's two monsters struck Alicia.
"Urgh—Ah!"
Alicia was hit by the two Number monsters' attacks, a pain like a Shadow Duel surging through her entire body.
[Alicia, LP: 4000 → 2400]
"Alicia, if this is all you can do, you're far from mastering Xyz Summoning," Nash said coldly as the girl winced in pain.
...
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