One of the discarded cards immediately activated.
"I discarded the Spell Card 'Card of Compensation'. When sent from my hand to the Graveyard, Draw two cards from the Deck." (ANIME EFFECT)
After drawing, she revealed three cards from her hand.
"Spell Card 'Polymerization'! I fuse 'Cyber Blader' and 'Etoile Cyber' with 'Polymerization'! Fusion Summon!
Cyber Blader!"
The two monsters vanished into the fusion vortex, and a graceful skater glided forward on icy blades, spinning lightly.
Cyber Blader, ATK 2100.
Asuka Tenjoin focused carefully. This was also a powerful ace commonly used in her own Deck.
"I'm coming at you, little sister from Duel Academy," Misaki Takahashi said. "Show me the new power of Cyber Angel!"
"Cyber Blader, Summon!"
"Cyber Blader." Asuka Tenjoin froze for a moment, her expression turning complicated. That card was one of her own favorite monsters, and in her very first Duel she had used it as her ace. Seeing it appear on the opposite field gave her a strange feeling.
"Correct." Misaki Takahashi smiled calmly. "Cyber Blader was the first monster I designed after I specialized in cyberization. It is like a part of my soul."
Asuka Tenjoin straightened. "So you were the one who designed it."
"Exactly. That is why the bond between me and my Cyber Monsters is so strong."
Misaki Takahashi placed another card from her hand onto the field. "Next, I activate this from my hand, the Ritual Spell 'Machine Angel Ritual'!"
Asuka Tenjoin focused even harder. It was the same type of card she used.
"I tribute the Level 6 'Luminarch Machine-Sakura Fire' from my hand as Ritual Material. With 'Machine Angel Ritual', I Summon. Level 6, 'Cyber Angel Idaten'!"
On Misaki Takahashi's side, the image of Luminarch Machine vanished within the Ritual Altar. Flames burst upward and formed a blazing curtain of fire. From it emerged 'Cyber Angel Idaten', Ritual Summon.
'Cyber Angel Idaten', ATK 1600.
"When 'Cyber Angel Idaten' is Summoned, I return a Spell Card from the Graveyard to my hand." Golden light flashed from the Graveyard slot of her Duel Disk. She revealed the recovered card. "I take back the Spell Card 'Graceful Charity' and activate it again. I draw three cards from my Deck, then discard two."
Her hand quickly cycled, two cards sent back to the Graveyard. She then lifted another card.
"I have not used my Normal Summon yet. I Normal Summon 'Cyber Blader'!"
Cyber Blader, ATK 1000.
Several experts in the audience nodded in approval. They praised Misaki Takahashi's smooth handling of a cyber-focused Deck. In a single turn she had established an impressive field.
Yugen only noticed how many cards she had spent in one turn. Still, that was common for this style of Duel. Especially with cyber strategies, whether through 'Polymerization' or Ritual plays, summoning a strong monster often cost at least three cards. If she top decked 'Card of Sanctity' next turn and refilled her hand, no one would be surprised.
"Battle Phase," Misaki Takahashi declared. "I will not hold back. Let me see the results of your research. Cyber Blader, attack 'Cyber Angel Nasha'!"
The ice skater dashed forward, blades cutting across the field. Her armed right arm shot out sharply.
"Effect of 'Cyber Angel Nasha'!" Asuka Tenjoin responded. "When one of my Ritual monsters is targeted for an attack, I can negate that attack!"
A pale blue barrier appeared before Nasha. Cyber Blader's strike slammed into it, flames and force spreading across the surface, but the shield did not move.
"So it can negate attacks," Misaki Takahashi said. "No wonder a Ritual monster with only 1000 ATK was summoned with such effort. It is a defensive type."
"Then 'Cyber Angel Idaten', attack 'Cyber Angel Nasha'!"
Cyber Angel Idaten spun forward gracefully and delivered a sweeping kick. The same blue barrier formed again, stopping the blow without difficulty.
"No limit on activations?" Misaki Takahashi asked.
"That is right." Asuka Tenjoin smiled. "As long as 'Nasha' is on the field, it can block any number of attacks against my Ritual monsters."
"I see. An absolute defense for Cyber Angel."
It meant the monster could not be defeated by battle alone. It would require Destruction or another form of removal.
"I set one card and end my turn."
"My Turn! Draw!"
Asuka Tenjoin felt energized. Now it was time to show the new potential of her Cyber Angel.
"I Normal Summon 'Cyber Petit Angel'!"
Cyber Petit Angel, ATK 200.
"On summon, I add the Ritual Spell 'Machine Angel Ritual' from my Deck to my hand!"
She immediately activated it.
"I use 'Machine Angel Ritual' again! I tribute Level 2 'Cyber Petit Angel' and Level 5 'Cyber Angel Nasha' to Perform a Ritual Summon the monster added to my hand by 'Cyber Angel Benten' last turn!"
She raised the Ritual Monster high.
"Appear, Level 6! 'Cyber Angel Idaten'!"
'Cyber Angel Idaten', ATK 1600.
Now both sides had Cyber Angel Idaten facing each other.
"Then, with 'Cyber Angel Idaten's' effect, I recover 'Machine Angel Ritual' from the Graveyard again!"
Misaki Takahashi frowned slightly. "Recovering the Ritual Spell again? Are you planning another Ritual Summon?"
"Field Spell 'Blessed Church-Ritual Cathedral', Effect Activation!" Asuka Tenjoin announced. "Once Per Turn, by discarding a Spell Card, I add a LIGHT Ritual Monster from my Deck to my hand. I discard one Spell Card and add 'Cyber Angel Dakini'!"
"So you will call Dakini now?"
Misaki Takahashi nodded, approving of her junior's skill. Dakini was currently the strongest Cyber Angel monster developed by Electronic Research Association.
But Dakini did not appear.
"Effect Activation of 'Cyber Angel Nasha' in the Graveyard!" Asuka Tenjoin declared. "If this card is in the Graveyard, I can banish another 'Cyber Angel' monster from my Graveyard and Special Summon this card! I banish 'Cyber Angel Benten' and Special Summon Nasha!"
Light swirled as Cyber Angel Benten vanished. The vortex of the Graveyard opened, and the four-armed angel descended once more.
'Cyber Angel Nasha', ATK 1000.
"So it revived again," Misaki Takahashi muttered. "As long as it stays, it blocks attacks and recovers Life Points each turn. Solid defense."
Nani?!!?
Her eyes widened suddenly.
Because in that instant, she saw her Tamashii, the Cyber Blader she had personally designed and trusted the most, perform a clean backflip.
And land on the opposite field.
Misaki Takahashi stared in disbelief.
At this moment Misaki Takahashi felt completely shaken.
What was going on? Why had her Tamashii betrayed her, when they were supposed to share the strongest bond?
From the sidelines, the ever cheerful Yugen explained with a smile, "No need to worry, teacher. It is just the special effect of Nasha. During the Duel, we are borrowing your Tamashii for a bit. After the Student Council is over, we will return her."
Misaki Takahashi fell silent. She had already guessed it was caused by a monster effect, but the way he phrased it sounded strange, as if someone was casually borrowing something precious.
Clearing her throat, she forced herself to stay calm. "Sorry, teacher. The follow up ability of 'Cyber Angel Nasha' allows her to gain control of one monster on your field when she Special Summons herself by her own effect."
"I see."
Misaki Takahashi steadied her breathing, though she could not help glancing twice at the new Ritual Angel on the opposing field. Cyber Angel Nasha looked powerful enough, but her style felt slightly different from the impression she had before.
"Next is Nasha's first Effect Activation. Once Per Turn, I choose a monster on my field and gain Life Points equal to half that monster's ATK," Asuka Tenjoin said.
"I choose the controlled Cyber Blader. And teacher, your Cyber Blader also has a special effect."
Misaki Takahashi nodded. "Cyber Blader gains different effects depending on the number of monsters on the opponent's field. When there are two monsters, her ATK becomes double."
"Exactly," Asuka Tenjoin replied. "Because you still have 'Cyber Angel Idaten' and 'Ballet Skirt' on your field, Cyber Blader's ATK doubles!"
Cyber Blader, ATK 2100 to ATK 4200.
Asuka Tenjoin, LP 4500 to LP 6600.
The onlookers watched with interest. Seeing the electronic Association Chief's Tamashii switch sides and restore the opponent's Life Points was far too entertaining.