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 Nashira. 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 Nashira 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 Nashira looked powerful enough, but her style felt slightly different from the impression she had before.
"Next is Nashira'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 Cyber Prima 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.
Some even called out teasingly.
"Six thousand six hundred Life Points! The girl from Duel Academy is impressive!"
"Association Chief's Cyber Blader is really useful."
Misaki Takahashi said nothing.
"Now the effect of Cyber Prima in my hand." Asuka Tenjoin revealed another monster card. "By Tributing Warrior or Fairy monsters from my hand or field, I can Special Summon it. I Tribute the Fairy-Type Cyber Angel Nashira and Special Summon Cyber Prima!" (ANIME EFFECT)
Nashira dissolved into golden light again, and the ballerina clad Cyber Dancer leapt onto the field.
Cyber Prima, ATK 1800.
"Next, I activate the recovered Ritual Spell Machine Angel Ritual!" Asuka Tenjoin continued. "I Tribute Cyber Angel Idaten and Cyber Prima as Ritual materials. Let the light illuminate the path forward. Angel of Light, descend here. Level 8, Cyber Angel Dakini!"
Cyber Angel Dakini, ATK 2700.
"Cyber Angel Idaten's new effect. When used as a Tribute, all Ritual monsters on my field gain 1000 ATK!" (ANIME EFFECT)
Cyber Angel Dakini, ATK 2700 to ATK 3700.
"Three thousand seven hundred in one move," Misaki Takahashi said quietly. "That is a powerful new effect."
"There is more. When Cyber Prima is used as a Ritual Tribute, I can recover a Ritual Spell card from the Graveyard." Asuka Tenjoin displayed the recycled Spell Card. "I recover Machine Angel Ritual again." (ANIME EFFECT)
"It can still be recovered?" Misaki Takahashi was startled.
She was beginning to understand that this reinforced Cyber Angel had gained remarkable consistency and endurance compared to before.
"And Cyber Angel Dakini's effect," Asuka Tenjoin continued. "When Cyber Angel Dakini is successfully Ritual Summoned, you must send one monster you control to the Graveyard."
Without much hesitation, Misaki Takahashi chose. "I send Cyber Angel Idaten to the Graveyard."
The monster dissolved into golden particles and vanished into the Graveyard.
"You did not choose Cyber Prima with the lower ATK."
Familiar with the electronic Deck, Asuka Tenjoin glanced toward the opponent's Back Row. She already had a good guess what the set card was.
"Now I banish the Cyber Angel Idaten that was just sent to the Graveyard. Then I activate the effect of Cyber Angel Nashira in the Graveyard! Nashira Special Summons herself and gains control of your Cyber Blader!" (ANIME EFFECT)
"It can activate again? There is no usage limit?" Misaki Takahashi exclaimed.
"As long as Nashira is in the Graveyard, it can activate any number of times in a turn," Asuka Tenjoin replied. "I take control of Cyber Blader!" (ANIME EFFECT)
Seeing her last monster about to be taken, Misaki Takahashi acted at once. "I activate my set card! Quick-Play Spell 'Heroine's Light'! I send my Cyber Blader to the Graveyard and Special Summon Etoile Cyber from my hand!" (ANIME EFFECT)
A surge of magic erupted. The petite figure vanished, replaced by a mature heroine in Defense Position.
Etoile Cyber, DEF 1600.
At the same time, Nashira had already returned from the Graveyard.
Cyber Angel Nashira, ATK 1000.
"In that case, the target Cyber Blader is gone, so the control effect loses its target and becomes invalid," Misaki Takahashi said.
"Then I activate Cyber Angel Nashira's effect again. Once Per Turn, choose a monster I control and gain Life Points equal to half its ATK." (ANIME EFFECT)
Asuka Tenjoin smiled. "Because Nashira returned from the Graveyard, her usage resets. This time I choose Cyber Angel Dakini. With 3700 ATK, I gain 1850 Life Points."
Asuka Tenjoin, LP 6600 to LP 8450.
"Eight thousand four hundred," Misaki Takahashi murmured.
On the surface she only had Etoile Cyber left. If Asuka Tenjoin attacked with the taken Cyber Blader and then struck directly with the empowered Cyber Angel Dakini and Nashira, it would be over.
But she still had one last measure. The other card she discarded with Graceful Charity was Shield Warrior. From the Graveyard, it could be banished to prevent one of her monsters from being destroyed by battle.
With Shield Warrior, the heroine could block two attacks. She would only take 1000 battle damage from Nashira this turn. As long as she survived, she still had a chance next turn.
Asuka Tenjoin raised her hand. "I activate a Spell Card! 'Merciful Machine Angel'!" (ANIME EFFECT)
Misaki Takahashi froze.
She was not attacking?
"By Tributing a Cyber Angel Ritual monster from my hand or field, I Draw two cards from the Deck, then return one card from my hand to the bottom of the Deck. I Tribute Cyber Angel Nashira and Draw from my Deck!" (ANIME EFFECT)
Nashira dissolved once more into golden light as Asuka Tenjoin drew.
Misaki Takahashi's pupils shrank. The danger was not the draw. It was that Nashira had gone back to the Graveyard again.
For this Cyber Angel, the Graveyard was not an exit. It was home.
"Quick-Play Spell Burial from a Different Dimension. It returns up to three banished monsters to the Graveyard," Asuka Tenjoin declared. "I return Cyber Angel Benten and Cyber Angel Idaten!"
Misaki Takahashi said nothing. She already knew what was coming.
"Activate the effect of Cyber Angel Nashira in the Graveyard once more! I banish Cyber Angel Benten, Special Summon Nashira, and take control of your Etoile Cyber!" (ANIME EFFECT)
Cyber Angel Nashira, ATK 1000.
Nashira reappeared yet again, raising her hand as if issuing a command. Etoile Cyber's eyes glowed red as she obediently crossed to Asuka Tenjoin's field.