"Huh? Why should I give you my Deck? That's absolutely unheard of!"
Loli-Kaima stared in disbelief, as if Miles had just said the dumbest thing in the world.
"What? Have you ever heard of exchanging Spirit Eyes then? Either way, we're gambling on it—obviously swapping Decks is easier!"
The two of them were hopeless card addicts; once they started arguing, neither was willing to budge.
"But still… no matter how you look at it, my own Deck would work better in my hands!"
"Oh? And you plan to pilot Blue-Eyes using your tiny loli body?"
"That has nothing to do with being a loli! Ugh… you really have been secretly making fun of me!"
"..."
"Apologize!"
Across the room, the High Prelate's Spirit Eye hovered awkwardly midair.
What were these two doing?
He had genuine murderous intent, yet they weren't taking him seriously at all.
Not even a shred of tension.
"Are you… mocking me!?"
The High Prelate flicked a card between his fingers; once it materialized, a blade-covered demon lunged straight toward the smallest, seemingly weakest target—Loli-Kaima.
"Watch out!"
Miles reacted instantly, grabbing Kaima's small waist with both hands and lifting her high off the ground.
CRACK—!
A deafening fracture ripped through the floor. A gaping crevice split open exactly where Kaima had been standing.
"That was close…"
Kaima's tiny eyes trembled uncontrollably from the aftershock of fear.
Had Miles not reacted in time, she likely would've been sliced in two.
Even if this was a realm of consciousness, dying here… who knew what might happen to their real bodies outside?
"Thank you, Miles…"
Because her body was that of a child, her mental state skewed younger as well. After being saved, she thanked him honestly—something unimaginable from the usual Kaima.
Even so, being held around the waist and lifted off the floor like a plush toy… that was far too embarrassing. No matter how she kicked her legs, she couldn't break free, making her feelings even more complicated.
Of course, since Loli-Kaima weighed almost nothing, Miles didn't mind holding her at all.
"Alright, I get it, Miles. Now's not the time to be arguing—we need to deal with this annoying small fry first."
"Small fry? You dare call me a small fry!? Unforgivable!"
"That line alone proves you're the small-fryest of small fry." Kaima handed her Deck toward Miles with utmost formality. "I'll leave it to you this time. Crush him with the power of Blue-Eyes, Miles!"
"Got it!"
Miles set her down and accepted the Deck from her childish hands.
The legendary Blue-Eyes Deck—during the battle in the royal capital, even when their souls were swapped, he never got the chance to use it.
Now, by some miracle, he finally did.
The real issue was whether Kaima's Deck was compatible with his Spirit Eye.
According to the Spirit Continent's rules, every card was strictly bound to its original owner.
If this consciousness realm adhered to that rule…
Then Miles and Kaima would be forced to surrender before even starting.
"The gods and the god-slaying weapon are waiting for me. Like hell I'm going down in such a pathetic way!"
With Miles's unyielding Duelist spirit, the moment the Blue-Eyes Deck loaded into his Spirit Eye, the atmosphere of the entire space shifted.
The aura of a true powerhouse.
"Miles!"
Loli-Kaima's eyes sparkled uncontrollably at the sight of the man before her.
This was an entirely different feeling from when he fought using Aisha's body.
The Spirit Eye ignited.
Meaning—Kaima Seth's Blue-Eyes Deck was fully compatible with Miles.
Yet, that wasn't all.
In this consciousness-shaped obelisk realm, Miles felt he could push further.
Time for some style points!
Mechanical clicks extended outward from his Spirit Eye, assembling into the form of a Duel Disk.
"It actually works!"
The sleek new Duel Disk design ignited Miles's duelist soul.
He'd always wanted to try a full physicalized-monster duel using a Duel Disk.
After the Turbo Duel, yet another dream was coming true.
"Come on then, old man!"
"You will regret this! Regret daring to covet the god-slaying weapon!"
"Duel—!"
[High Prelate, LP: 4000]
[Miles, LP: 4000]
The Duel began within the obelisk tower's sealed, mysterious inner chamber.
Though enclosed, the ceiling was impossibly high—easily enough to house multiple massive Duel Monsters.
The High Prelate's Spirit Eye reacted first. Without Turbo Duel rules, turn order was completely random.
"My turn—draw!"
Drawing from his Spirit Eye, he scanned the card briefly, then activated Fusion.
"—Spell Card, Polymerization, activate!"
Fusion Summon's greatest advantage: instantly bringing out powerful monsters.
"I fuse the [Dramaturge of Despia] in my hand with [Fusion Devourer - Dark]!"
He was fusing himself.
The monster whose artwork matched his own was cast into the spiral of Fusion, and a monster of Despia emerged.
"Let despair take the stage! I Fusion Summon, in Defense Position—[Despian Quaeritis]!"
[Despian Quaeritis] Level 8│LIGHT│Fiend│2500 ATK / 2500 DEF
["Despia" monster + LIGHT or DARK monster]
Gripping a crimson staff reversed in his hands, the eerie Despia fusion monster looked nothing like the once-holy High Prelate—now fully a creature of wicked cults.
"And I activate the effect of the [Dramaturge of Despia] I used as Fusion Material!"
[If this card is sent to the GY or banished as Fusion Material: Special Summon this card.]
"I Special Summon it in Defense Position!"
[Dramaturge of Despia] Level 8│DARK│Fairy│3000 ATK / 1500 DEF
"Ugly and shameless… and you still call that thing an Angel?" Loli-Kaima roasted mercilessly.
Though the Fairy Type often included some strange creatures, a deranged cult priest calling himself an angel was pure absurdity.
Of course, roast aside, being able to jump back onto the field after being sent to the Graveyard as Fusion Material—and boasting 3000 Attack on top of that—put [Dramaturge of Despia] on par with Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
However, in this Duel, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon wasn't just a beatstick—it was a monster Miles needed to consider strategically.
Nonetheless, even with its 3000 Attack, the [Dramaturge] was still Special Summoned in Defense Position.
With two monsters now placed horizontally on his field, the High Prelate slammed another card into the Spell/Trap Zone.
"I Set one card—turn end!"
The first turn ended, passing the Duel to Miles.
His fingertips pressed against the top card of the Deck slotted into his Duel Disk—this was the first time since arriving in this world that Miles was Duel-ing in his own body.
"My first real Duel in this body… and it's with Blue-Eyes? Not bad at all."
And he could even use a Duel Disk.
As far as debut battles went—this was perfect.
"My turn—draw!"
Miles drew his card, and as he slid it out, the motion traced an arc of light off the sleek Duel Disk.
"What's this thing? It looks so cool!" Loli-Kaima was instantly captivated. Her childlike mindset made her far too easy to fascinate.
"As expected of Kaima's Deck—she even has this card. Alright then—!"
Miles activated the Spell without hesitation.
With the Duel Disk, Spell and Trap Cards no longer needed to be slapped onto the floor—they simply slid into the designated backrow slot.
"—Equip Spell, Future Fusion, activate!"
[Select 1 Fusion Monster from your Extra Deck. Send the Fusion Materials listed on it from your Deck to the Graveyard. Special Summon the selected Fusion Monster in face-up Attack Position and equip this card to it. (This Special Summon is treated as a Fusion Summon.) That monster cannot attack during the turn it is Special Summoned. If this card is destroyed, destroy that monster.]
Using its anime-original effect, Future Fusion still required one turn's delay to attack, but could immediately send materials and bring out the Fusion Monster.
Incidentally, this anime-version Future Fusion belonged to the high-tier Magic Directory.
And thanks to the Spell amplification from the Republic Knight's Badge, Miles had even added a copy into Aisha's Deck.
Though if Aisha activated Future Fusion, what would she realistically summon? Mokey Mokey King?
Compared to Aisha's likely three-Mokey Fusion, Kaima's side was far more straightforward.
Three cards shot out of the Deck—their identities obvious.
Three copies of Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
Miles tossed the three cards into the radiance of Future Fusion, and three dragons burst forth, spiraling together.
"Power! Invincible! Ultimate!"
Miles had always wanted to shout this chuunibyou line at least once.
"Fusion that shakes space and time—roar, the ultimate evolution of the strongest dragons! Fusion Summon!—Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!"
[Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon] Level 12│LIGHT│Dragon│4500 ATK / 3800 DEF
["Blue-Eyes White Dragon" + "Blue-Eyes White Dragon" + "Blue-Eyes White Dragon"]
"ROOOOAR—!"
Shredding the glow of Future Fusion, the apocalyptic Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon descended with a roar.
"That guy… he actually fused out my ace monster so easily…" Loli-Kaima bit her thumb in emotional turmoil.
Even the basic Ultimate Dragon—Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon—had taken her countless efforts to perfect.
Yet when the Blue-Eyes Deck landed in Miles's hands, he casually summoned the Neo version on turn one.
Of course, Fusion Summoned via Future Fusion, the monster couldn't attack this turn.
But Miles had other plans.
If he couldn't unleash Ultimate Dragon's triple attack—he'd unleash another triple attack.
"—Quick-Play Spell, De-Fusion, activate!"
Miles slid the second Spell Card into his Duel Disk.
Dazzling light wrapped around Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon, dividing it back into three separate dragons.
"I return Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon to the Extra Deck, then Special Summon the three [Blue-Eyes White Dragon] used as Fusion Material from the Graveyard!"
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon, ATK: 3000] ×3
Since these weren't summoned by Future Fusion's effect, they were free to attack.
Three Blue-Eyes on turn one—an overwhelming formation.
The sound alone made the sealed-space tremble.
The glory of summoning Blue-Eyes in every conceivable style—that was the true charm of a Blue-Eyes Deck.
"As expected of my Blue-Eyes!" Loli-Kaima puffed proudly.
"Let's get ready… the triple breakthrough of the three Blue-Eyes!"
"NOT SO FAST!" the High Prelate roared, interrupting the transition to the Battle Phase.
"During either player's Main Phase—[Despian Quaeritis]'s effect activates!"
[Once per turn (Quick Effect): During the Main Phase, you can make all monsters on the field, except Level 8 or higher Fusion Monsters, have their ATK become 0 until the end of this turn.]
The hellish chant of the Despia fusion monster spread across the field, reducing every monster's Attack to 0.
"Behold the power of Despia's faith!—Sanctuary Seal!"
It became clear why he'd summoned Dramaturge in Defense Position—its 3000 Attack dropped to 0 instantly.
And the same fate struck the three Blue-Eyes.
[Blue-Eyes White Dragon, ATK: 3000 → 0]
Their proud Attack vanished in an instant.
Even with three dragons on the field, Miles couldn't break through.
The High Prelate threw his head back and laughed. "HAHAHAHAHA! Even the legendary Blue-Eyes falters before Despia's divine might!"
He was laughing again.
"Then how about this?"
Since the Battle Phase had been interrupted, Miles remained in Main Phase.
He swept his arm horizontally—three brilliant rings of light flared around the Blue-Eyes.
"Let me show you… the next era of Blue-Eyes combat!"
This technique arose during Kaima Seth's historic duel in the royal capital against Cameron Slint.
"This turn—I overlay my three Level 8 Blue-Eyes White Dragons! I construct the Overlay Network! Xyz Summon!"
A pillar of radiant galaxy light erupted.
"Surging galaxy! Become a tidal wave of starlight and reveal your form! Descend! Dragon of a new era! Rank 8—Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!"
[Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon] Rank 8│LIGHT│Dragon│4500 ATK / 3000 DEF
[3 Level 8 monsters]
Just like the triple-headed Ultimate Dragon, this dragon also bore three heads—and matched its overwhelming Attack.
Its pure white draconic form burned crimson, and its blue eyes shimmered with galactic stardust.
The Rank 8 Xyz Summoned from three Blue-Eyes—Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon—stood above Despia's restrictions.
"What's wrong, old man? Why aren't you laughing now?"
...
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