The two brimming with gunpowder tension were promptly kicked out of Viel's Witch Workshop.
Of course, if they really started fighting indoors, the already worn-down building would be reduced to a pile of rubble by the end.
She couldn't afford to make her already tight living situation any worse.
In the slum at dawn, most people had already risen early to work for their livelihoods. However, since Viel's workshop was located in an even more remote corner of the slums, it wasn't unusual for an entire day to pass without a single soul walking by.
"Running a shop in a place like this… does she actually get any customers?" Miles couldn't help wondering aloud again.
"You're still thinking about that right now, Miles?!" Ren snapped.
That's right—the Millennium Puzzle now hung around Ren's neck.
To ensure fairness in the duel, the bratty loli Viel had suggested that Ren temporarily hold onto the Millennium Puzzle.
After all, this was a formal duel between Aisha Carlos and Krista Shia, each wagering what mattered most to them.
If Aisha and Miles remained spiritually linked—even without swapping souls or using Miles's dueling prowess and miracle draws—letting Miles guide Aisha in spirit form would still be unfair to Krista.
Of course, Miles never planned on doing that anyway.
So once Viel suggested it, Ren gladly accepted the idea and 'reluctantly' became the temporary custodian of the Millennium Puzzle.
Taking the opportunity, she asked the question that had been weighing most on her mind.
"Miles, if Ai-san loses this duel, are you really going to become Krista's spirit partner?"
From Ren's understanding, Miles wasn't the type to abandon Aisha over losing a single duel. If he were that irresponsible, she would've already won him over long ago.
"Hm." Miles pretended to think for a moment. "We'll… see when the time comes."
"What do you mean 'we'll see'? You have to think carefully about this, Miles! If not, I'll think for you!"
Ren was ready. Better to take the Puzzle and run than let it fall into Krista's hands.
Would that count as eloping?
Though Ren overlooked one detail… Miles's soul was still linked to Krista's as Shooting Quasar Dragon.
So no matter how far she tried to run, Krista would teleport right back to her in two minutes.
As for Miles, regarding the duel's outcome…
His original intent had been to use this as a way to spark Aisha's fighting resolve as a duelist.
Although Aisha's equal counterproposal had dragged Krista completely into the fray as well.
Things had already spiraled far beyond his expectations, and he had no idea how this was supposed to end.
Was this what they meant by cutting into tofu and finding it black inside?
"Get ready, Carlos!"
"Bring it on, Krista!"
"Duel—!" ×2
The twin flashes from their Spirit Eyes met, marking the start of the duel—with Krista taking the first turn.
"My turn! Draw!"
Even though this wasn't a Turbo Duel, Krista was still a third-year ace from Synchron Academy.
Her skill level, if translated to Fusion Academy standards, was probably on par with Kaima Seth.
Pitting third-year Krista against second-year Aisha Carlos didn't take an expert to see how unfavorable this matchup was.
Krista, taking the initiative, threw out her first card.
"I Normal Summon in Defense Position—[Quillbolt Hedgehog]!"
[Quillbolt Hedgehog] Level 2│EARTH│Machine│800 ATK / 800 DEF
The cute hedgehog, its spines replaced by screws, materialized on Krista's field in a crouch.
"Then I Tribute [Quillbolt Hedgehog] to Special Summon from my hand—the Tuner Monster [Stardust Synchron]!"
The vanished Quillbolt Hedgehog released shimmering stardust particles that fell upon Krista's field.
[Stardust Synchron] Level 4│LIGHT│Machine / Tuner│1500 ATK / 1000 DEF
[If this card is in your hand or Graveyard: You can Tribute 1 monster; Special Summon this card, but banish it when it leaves the field.]
The mechanical Tuner resembling a miniature Stardust Dragon replaced the hedgehog amid radiant starlight.
"When [Stardust Synchron] is Summoned—Normal or Special—I can add one Spell or Trap that mentions 'Stardust Dragon' from my Deck to my hand! And since I control a Tuner, the effect of [Quillbolt Hedgehog] in my Graveyard activates!"
[During your Main Phase: If you control a Tuner monster, you can Special Summon this card from your Graveyard. Banish it when it leaves the field.]
The sacrificed hedgehog burrowed back out from the ground, returning to the field.
With a string of practiced moves, Krista quickly gathered both a Tuner and a non-Tuner on her field.
"Level 4 [Stardust Synchron] and Level 2 [Quillbolt Hedgehog]—Synchro Summon!"
The light of Synchro Summoning burst forth in the first turn, followed by a wolf's fierce roar.
4★ + 2★ = 6★!
"A Level 6 Synchro… and it's not Stardust Charge Warrior?" Miles remarked in surprise.
Who knew how many different Synchro Monsters Krista had in her Extra Deck?
Especially since she was the human vessel of Shooting Quasar Dragon; her synergy with Synchro monsters must've been far greater than Miles had imagined.
"Burning Sirius of the heavens, lone eyes of the azure wolf—tear apart the claws that bind the earth! Synchro Summon! [Celestial Wolf Lord, Blue Sirius]!"
[Celestial Wolf Lord, Blue Sirius] Level 6│DARK│Beast-Warrior│2400 ATK / 1500 DEF
[Tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters]
A triple-headed wolf burst out from the Synchro light, halting proudly before Krista's confident smile.
"I Set two cards. Turn end!"
Krista ended her first turn with a Synchro Summon and two face-downs.
Facing the snarling Blue Sirius baring its fangs, Aisha seemed visibly pressured by Krista's confidence.
"My turn! Draw!"
Ren whispered nervously, "Ai-san will be okay, right?"
Miles replied bluntly, "You weren't this worried back when you were beating Aisha up in the royal capital, were you, Ren?"
'Tch… Plastic friendship at its finest.'
"That was because of the dark mist in the capital! You can't blame me for that!" Ren protested, face reddening.
Scanning her opening hand, Aisha's emerald eyes flickered.
"If it were Miles, he'd fight like this!"
Selecting a Spell Card from her hand, she slammed it down onto the field.
"Spell Card—[Enchanting Fitting Room], activate!"
[Pay 800 Life Points. Reveal the top 4 cards of your Deck, and Special Summon any Level 3 or lower Normal Monsters among them. Shuffle the rest back into your Deck.]
A Spell meant for the commoner's deck, flipping the top cards of her Deck to Special Summon any low-level Normal Monsters revealed.
Definitely the kind of opening move Miles himself would've made.
It proved that after witnessing so many of his duels within the Millennium Puzzle's Soul Room, Aisha hadn't come away empty-handed—she had grown.
If Aisha could fully unleash the power of her humble deck, it wasn't impossible to stand toe-to-toe with Krista.
[Aisha, LP: 4000 → 3200]
Then, what happened next made Miles truly realize the bond between his host and her low-level monsters.
At the cost of 800 Life Points, Aisha began flipping from the top of her Deck.
"First card! Normal Monster—[Volcanic Rat]!"
"Second card! Normal Monster—[White Duston]!"
"Third card! Normal Monster—[Skull Servant]!"
"Fourth card! Normal Monster—[Crowned by the World Chalice]!"
One [Enchanting Fitting Room] and Aisha flipped cards with the energy of activating [Shooting Star Dragon]!
Normally, even Miles at his best could only summon one or two low-level monsters with this card—three at most, if lucky.
But four in a row, all Normal Monsters, turning a single card into four summons? Even Miles had never managed that.
"The invincible low-star bond… maybe that's Aisha's talent," Miles murmured in awe.
The light of four Special Summons shimmered across Aisha's field.
Four distinct monsters stood together—her "small fry army" descending in formation. Aside from the 2-star Chalice Priestess, the rest were all Level 1s.
Viel, watching from the side, widened her round eyes, her small mouth agape. "Unbelievable… this might even surpass Alester's predictions!"
The genuine power of the low-stars—to most, it would look like a board full of nobodies.
Even so, from another perspective, the result could look entirely different.
From Viel Sandrion's view as the Crystalline Great Sage, what Aisha had just done in that instant might have been even more astonishing than summoning three Blue-Eyes White Dragons at once.
Continuing confidently, Aisha threw out another card.
"I won't lose, Krista! This is what Miles taught me… the way of the commoner monsters' battle!"
Aisha led her small fry army forward, charging straight at the stardust of the Quasar.
...
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