Cyber Angel Benten dissolved into flames upon the altar, holy light bursting outward. A red cloak fluttered as a golden helmet with four eyes opened at once. The four armed angel descended.
Cyber Angel Nashira, ATK 1000.
"So this is the new Cyber Angel." Seeing a new angel after years of stalled research, Misaki Takahashi felt genuine excitement.
"But her ATK is only 1000," she pointed out. "Cyber Angel Benten has 1600 ATK. Why use it as tribute?"
Asuka Tenjoin smiled. "Cyber Angel Benten has a new effect. When used as tribute, I can add a LIGHT Fairy monster from my Deck to my hand. So I add this card."
She searched again and revealed a Ritual Monster.
"I add Cyber Angel Idaten to my hand."
"I see. Cyber Angel Benten's true value appears when used as tribute," Misaki Takahashi nodded.
"Next, Cyber Angel Nashira Effect Activation! Once Per Turn, I target one face up monster I control. I gain Life Points equal to half that monster's ATK.
I choose Cyber Angel Nashira itself and gain 500 Life Points!" (ANIME EFFECT)
Asuka Tenjoin: 4000 to 4500.
"A recovery effect," Misaki Takahashi said thoughtfully. "A defensive type Cyber Angel. That's rare."
Asuka Tenjoin simply smiled. Nashira's abilities were far more than that, but she said nothing.
"My Turn! end."
"Then, my turn., Card Draw." Misaki Takahashi responded. "I activate a Spell Card! Graceful Charity. I draw three cards, then discard two."
One of the discarded cards immediately activated.
"I discarded the Spell Card Pot of Greed. 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 'Blade Skater' and 'Etoile Cyber' with Polymerization! Polymerization!
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 'Cyber Angel Benten' 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 Cyber Angel Benten 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." (ANIME EFFECT) 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 Nashira!"
The ice skater dashed forward, blades cutting across the field. Her armed right arm shot out sharply.
"Effect of Cyber Angel Nashira!" Asuka Tenjoin responded. "When one of my Ritual monsters is targeted for an attack, I can negate that attack!" (ANIME EFFECT)
A pale blue barrier appeared before Nashira. 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 Nashira!"
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 'Cyber Angel Nashira' is on the field, it can block any number of attacks against my Ritual monsters." (ANIME EFFECT)
"I see. An absolute defense for Cyber Angel."
It meant the monster could not be defeated by battle alone. It would require Destroy or another form of removal.
"I set one card and end my turn."
"My Turn!, Card 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 Nashira' 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.
"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 Perform a Ritual Summon?"
"Field Spell 'Ritual Sanctuary', 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'!" (ANIME EFFECT)
"So you will call Cyber Angel Dakini now?"
Misaki Takahashi nodded, approving of her junior's skill. Cyber Angel Dakini was currently the strongest Cyber Angel monster developed by Electronic Research Association.
But Cyber Angel Dakini did not appear.
"Effect Activation of 'Cyber Angel Nashira' 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 Cyber Angel Nashira!" (ANIME EFFECT)
Light swirled as Cyber Angel Benten vanished. The vortex of the Graveyard opened, and the four-armed angel descended once more.
Cyber Angel Nashira, 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.