After drawing a card, Nephilim executed an action completely different from Tierra's.
It was a quick operation.
"Flip Summon, Shaddoll Falco."
The Falco controlled by Puppet Strings flipped over and let out a caw.
Shaddoll Falco, LV 2, Dark Attribute, Spellcaster-Type, ATK 600.
A Flip Summoned Monster can only be in Attack Position.
Shaddoll Falco?
Tierra nodded her head.
Tenjo Hikari had used it many times before, so she knew what Falco's effect was.
"When Falco is Flip Summoned, you can target 1 Shaddoll Monster in your Graveyard, except Shaddoll Falco, and Special Summon it in face-down Defense Position."
Nephilim raised a hand and slowly connected a string from himself to the Graveyard: "Revive the Shaddoll Squamata from the Graveyard."
Tierra nodded.
She certainly knew this effect.
"Pa—"
Hmm?
Tierra turned to look at Tenjo Hikari, only to see Tenjo Hikari instinctively slap his face.
What?
She immediately realized there must have been something wrong with her previous move—what went wrong?
Tierra looked left and right.
"Ah..." She suddenly realized something.
She seemed to have missed an "important point."
Though she realized it, her opponent would not stop the action due to her mistake.
So, while Tierra was in a hurry, Shaddoll Squamata was already being brought up, turning into a purple gemstone and placed on the field.
"Activate the Spell Card, Polymerization." Nephilim followed up by activating the card in hand, "Fusion Summon Shaddoll Squamata on the field and Hourglass of Life in my hand—I shall make my appearance again!"
It didn't hesitate, stepping forward to reach the Duel Monster Zone.
El Shaddoll Construct, LV 8, Light Attribute, Fairy-Type, ATK 2800.
"Similarly, I shall activate my effect and Shaddoll Squamata's effect."
Continuously activating effects is quite remarkable indeed.
Tierra made her evaluation in her heart.
"I will send the second Shaddoll Core and Shaddoll Beast from the Deck to the Graveyard."
Nephilim continued operating.
"Then, the effects of Shaddoll Core and Shaddoll Beast will also activate. First, Shaddoll Beast, when this card is sent to the Graveyard by a card effect, I can draw one card. Then, Shaddoll Core can recycle Shaddoll Spell and Trap Cards from the Graveyard.
I will return Nephe Shaddoll Fusion to the hand."
In this way, it not only replenished the hand but also drew a card.
However, at this moment, Tierra also came back to her senses: "Hey, wait, activate the Monster Effect."
Nephilim paused for a moment.
"Satan's effect. Once per opponent's turn, tribute 1 monster on your side of the field to target 1 card in the opponent's Graveyard. Banish that card. I will tribute itself, banish your Nephe Shaddoll Fusion."
Satan's eyes glowed red, and the blue flames on its body quickly transformed into blue ice, freezing the card in Nephilim's Graveyard.
The card intended to be recycled suddenly vanished, although another card was drawn, Nephilim still felt an inexplicable tension and fear.
This feeling...
The sense of innate suppression.
But it didn't matter.
The necessary card was still drawn.
It looked at the hand card.
Should Shaddoll Fusion be used?
Originally, the optimal usage of Shaddoll Fusion was certainly when there is an Extra Monster on the opponent's field.
But now...
Even if it shouldn't be used, it must be used.
"Activate the Spell Card, Shaddoll Fusion."
It contemplated for a while and made a conclusion: "Fusion of Shaddoll Falco and the Shaddoll Hedgehog from my hand, Fusion Summon—our leader, El Shaddoll Winda!"
Little Winda!
It's the real Little Winda!
The real Little Winda made its appearance.
Tenjo Hikari watched the opposing Monster make its appearance and thought silently.
However...
The word "real," evidently, isn't that true either.
El Shaddoll Winda, LV 5, Dark Attribute, Spellcaster-Type, ATK 2200.
Tierra raised her eyebrows.
She actually quite liked this appearance.
Her taste is high, if she doesn't truly like it, she wouldn't be out here with this facade.
However, she did not mind the opponent using this appearance to battle either.
"Shaddoll Hedgehog's effect, when sent to the Graveyard, adds a Shaddoll Monster other than this card from the Deck to the hand. I will add the second Shaddoll Falco to the hand." It took it out, showed it to Tierra, and then set it on the field, "Next, set it in the Monster Zone."
"Next. Battle—"
"Winda attack Infernoid Antra!"
Infernoid Antra's DEF is 2000.
No matter how hard it tries, it can't defend against 2200 ATK.
And once it's empty, El Shaddoll Construct can naturally face Tierra directly!
Tierra raised an eyebrow.
With her power, if El Shaddoll Construct dared to resist her, she could easily crush it with a wave of her hand, yet—this is a duel.
El Shaddoll Construct can strike her head-on, right in her presence!
"I'm going to attack you directly—"
El Shaddoll Construct declared, and with a demonstration, aimed a punch at Tierra.
Tierra's head tilted slightly backward.
"Hahahahaha—" Tenjo Hikari couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Tierra pursed her lips, slowly standing upright.
Tierra LP: 4000→1200.
Luckily, Sofia isn't here.
Otherwise, this would be too embarrassing.
Being hit on the head by your own creation!
She shook her head slightly, then touched the spot where she was hit with her right hand.
It's not that she's a masochist or a pervert.
The reason she's doing this is because she actually felt a sense of "being alive."
No matter how lively her actions are now, she is undoubtedly a dead God.
"Life" as a concept doesn't exist in her.
But dueling with a Spirit actually made her feel pain.
"What an intriguing and surprising way of battle," Tierra felt.
So this is how it is.
This is the battle of a new era.
"Duel Ceremony," indeed, if not formally dueling, there's no way to experience this.
She looked at Tenjo Hikari.
All along, the duels Tenjo Hikari adhered to and the "Polymerization" he trusted, is this what it feels like?
Tenjo Hikari smiled and spoke, "So, now do you understand?"
Tierra felt the "thrill" of life, nodded lightly, but still looked at Tenjo Hikari.
Was it a suggestion?
"Just duel the way you want to," he said.
Tierra nodded again.
Now she fully understood.
So that's it; just do what she always wanted to do.
Even if her body is completely dead and can only survive through cards, it doesn't matter!
"Are you going to end your turn?"
El Shaddoll Construct wondered.
It was a bit confused about the situation.
At first, it simply regarded the opponent as an evil spirit borrowing its leader's appearance to deceive and swagger.
However, as the duel began, it discovered that the opponent seemed completely inexperienced in battle, utterly clueless.
And reaching this turn, despite having an absolute advantage, it was not satisfied at all but instead felt very uncomfortable.
It's as if its deck was being suppressed by the opponent's cards.
Very strange—
Very peculiar.
Yet, no matter how odd, it can only choose to end its turn.
"Then—Void Purification, activate." Tierra raised her right hand.
The Trap Card covering her front slowly flipped over, revealing a card surface filled with glacial ice.
"Continuous Trap Card Void Purification."
Subsequently, ice the same color as flames condensed around her.
"El Shaddoll Construct, I see the confusion in your heart."
"Why can the entity across from you use the appearance of El Shaddoll Winda?"
"Why does the opposing power feel suffocating?"
"Why is your deck's strongest reutilization being restricted?"
As Tierra spoke, it seemed like wings formed of crimson flames floated slowly with the wind behind her despite being in El Shaddoll Winda's Dark Attribute form. The brilliance emitted from her split the dark clouds—
She is indeed a true God!
El Shaddoll Construct's mechanical heart couldn't help but start pounding.
This entity, could she be speaking the truth?
It felt this strange sensation.
Like a saint, Tierra slowly opened her arms: "Worship me, for I am the [God] you venerate."
"God of Creation and Destruction."
Then, she gently retracted her hands: "My turn, draw. At this moment, activate Void Purification's effect. During my standby phase, I will place 1 banished Infernoid Monster into the Graveyard."
"Go back on standby, Ashtaroth."