"Next, I activate Eldlich the Golden Lord's second effect, which I just sent from my hand to the Graveyard: while this card is in the Graveyard, I can send 1 Spell/Trap I control to the Graveyard to activate it. This card returns to my hand. Then, I can Special Summon 1 Zombie monster from my hand. A monster Special Summoned by this effect gains 1000 Attack and Defense, and cannot be destroyed by card effects until the end of the opponent's turn."
Raku placed his hand on the Duel Disk.
"I send Cursed Eldland on my field to the Graveyard, and return Eldlich to my hand." The Duel Disk let out a crisp sound as the Graveyard slot ejected the card. "Then, I Special Summon Eldlich from my hand in Attack Position, as a Zombie monster!"
He slammed the card heavily into the Monster Zone.
Golden light gathered violently at the center of the castle hall, its blinding brilliance nearly driving away all surrounding shadows.
"O king of immortality, return from hell and display your power to the world! Descend–my Spirit, Eldlich the Golden Lord!"
[Eldlich the Golden Lord, ATK: 2500 → 3500]
A massive body forged entirely of gold descended amid the intertwining moonlight and golden radiance. Its luxurious purple cloak fluttered loudly in the air. The suffocating pressure it exuded seemed to drop the temperature of the entire castle."
"From there, Cursed Eldland's third effect: when this card is sent from the Spell/Trap Zone to the Graveyard, I can send 1 'Eldlich' monster or 1 'Golden Land' Spell/Trap from my Deck to the Graveyard. I send Conquistador of the Golden Land to the Graveyard."
Raku continued his plays without pause.
"Not done yet, I activate Eldlixir of Black Awakening's first effect: I Special Summon 1 Zombie monster from my hand or Deck in Defense Position. If I do not control an 'Eldlich' monster, I cannot Special Summon monsters except 'Eldlich' monsters with this effect. After this card resolves, I cannot Special Summon monsters except Zombie monsters until the end of the turn."
Raku looked straight at the girl beneath the pillar.
"Phila, watch carefully. The monster I Special Summon in Defense Position is–Uni-Zombie."
Black soil churned across Raku's field, and two zombies in tattered formalwear crawled out side by side.
Already shaken by Eldlich's arrival, Phila froze the moment she saw that monster.
"Uni-Zombie?"
She stared in disbelief at the figure on Raku's field.
"That's… my card?"
Out of fear of sending them to the Graveyard, she had always carefully hidden these monsters deep within her hand or Deck.
"Heh heh." Raku sneered. "It seems your cowardice has cost you your companions once again! Watch closely, Phila–this is how Uni-Zombie is meant to be used."
"I activate Uni-Zombie's second effect: I target 1 face-up monster on the field, send 1 Zombie monster from my Deck to the Graveyard, and increase that monster's Level by 1. After this effect resolves, monsters other than Zombies I control cannot attack until the end of the turn."
He drew another card from his Deck.
"I send Glow-Up Bloom to the Graveyard, then increase Uni-Zombie's Level by 1. After that, I activate Glow-Up Bloom's first effect: when this card is sent to the Graveyard, I can banish it to add 1 Level 5 or higher Zombie monster from my Deck to my hand.
"If 'Zombie World' is on the field, I can Special Summon it instead. After this effect resolves, I cannot Special Summon monsters except Zombies until the end of the turn."
Raku revealed a second card shining with golden light.
"The card I add to my hand is another Eldlich."
The chain resolved, and the search was complete.
Leaning against the cold stone pillar, Phila stared fixedly at the singing zombie on Raku's field.
That was her monster.
All this time, she believed that as long as she didn't touch them, didn't let them get hurt, and didn't send them to that pitch-black Graveyard, they would always remain by her side. As long as they stayed by her side, they would be safe.
But now…
Uni-Zombie was on the other side, acting under another Duelist's command.
Glow-Up Bloom, the fragile little flower she always thought needed protection, was mercilessly sent to the Graveyard as a cost.
Phila felt her breathing grow difficult.
The fear she felt before Eldlich's massive presence was rapidly fading. In its place was a pain, as if her heart were being tightly gripped by an unseen hand.
Those were… my companions.
Why did Mr. Wandering Spirit take them away?
Why… is no one staying by my side anymore?
Is it because I'm weak? Because I don't dare to let them take the field?
Phila slowly straightened her body, the hem of her white dress ceasing its trembling.
Her gaze, once lowered in fear, shifted toward her Graveyard as she clenched her fists.
"And–Battle Phase, Phila~ it's far from over. There's something even more exciting waiting for you."
Raku raised his right hand.
"Eldlich attacks directly! And when a monster declares an attack, I can activate this effect–Special Summon this card from my hand in Defense Position…"
With his slender fingers, he slowly drew out a card from the remaining cards in his left hand.
Hearing that extremely familiar effect description, Phila's lowered gaze shot upward.
"That's impossible?!"
That effect, that card… could it be…?
"Looks like you've guessed who it is…"
Raku slammed the card into his Monster Zone, spreading his arms wide as the hem of his coat whipped hard.
"Ta-da! This is the shocking truth only being revealed now!!!"
A blonde, red-eyed vampire noblewoman in an ornate Gothic gown materialized on Raku's field, holding a lace parasol. She looked at Phila across the field with crimson eyes, saying nothing.
"Well then, seeing this familiar face–are you already in tears, Phi↑la↓?!"
Raku tilted his head slightly, left eye wide open and right eye narrowed, the curve of his lips stretching almost to his ears. He pushed his villainous expression to the extreme, his voice sharp and dripping with mockery.
"…"
Phila fell into complete silence.
Her most trusted sister.
The one who always stood before her, taking damage in her place–Vampire Fraulein–was now standing beside that demon.
Tears slid down her pale cheeks, dripping onto the cold marble floor.
"Crying? That still counts as time!" Raku's finger slashed forward. "Battle Phase! Eldlich attacks directly–3500!"
The massive golden lich king received the command and strode up to Phila. Its bandage-wrapped, porcelain-like arm swung out fiercely.
Bang!
Eldlich's fist struck Phila squarely in the abdomen.
Though the impact of the hologram was reduced by the Duel Disk, Phila's frail body was still knocked back, the intense pain forcing a gasp from her.
"Kgh…"
Phila collapsed to her knees, bracing herself against the cold floor with both hands.
[Phila, LP: 8000 → 4500]
She stared at the ground, clenching her fist unwillingly. Her nails dug deep into her palm.
Memories from before surfaced again.
Because she wanted to protect them. Because she feared loss too much.
So she avoided dueling, believing that as long as she held her cards tightly in her hand–never letting them take the field, never sending them to that place called the Graveyard–she could at least protect her companions.
But now?
Her most beloved sister, the one she relied on most–Fraulein–stood in the opponent's Monster Zone, watching her take the hit with cold indifference.
What was she supposed to do?
Had everything she believed in been wrong from the very beginning?
Phila slowly raised her head. Through Eldlich's towering body, her tear-filled ruby eyes looked toward Fraulein standing behind.
Fraulein held her parasol, her proud and icy face expressionless.
But-
Her hand gripping the handle seemed to move slightly, as if she couldn't quite restrain herself.
Flutter.
A small pitch-black bat with glowing red eyes flew out from beneath her skirt, crossed the field, and lightly landed above Phila's Graveyard on her Duel Disk.
The little bat turned its head to look at Phila, then dissolved into a puff of red mist and quickly vanished.
Phila watched this scene.
Her breath caught sharply.
What did that mean?
Why did her sister send a bat toward the Graveyard?
Was she reminding her? But she was standing on the opponent's field, why would she still…?
No! That was a reminder!
Even from the enemy's side, she was telling me the answer. They haven't abandoned me… they're just waiting, waiting for me to truly understand their destination.
Phila released her clenched fist, braced herself against the stone pillar, and slowly but firmly stood up.
Seeing the girl who had been trembling now stand straight again, Raku's exaggerated smile paused for half a second in surprise before returning to that tone of disdain.
"What's wrong?! Planning to surrender?"
"No!"
Phila shouted–the loudest voice she had made in this dream, even though it still trembled. "I won't surrender!"
She stared directly at the demon standing under the moonlight.
"All this time, I've been running away, thinking that running away could protect my companions."
Raku sneered.
"Then why not run now?! Afraid of death?! So in the end, your own life matters more than your companions, right?! Admit it, Phila! You're just a useless coward–"
"Yes. I am useless."
Unexpectedly, Phila did not deny it, but calmly accepted the mockery.
She clenched her right fist tightly, raised her arm, and roughly wiped away her tears.
"What?"
Raku's voice halted.
"I've been self-righteous," Phila continued. Her voice was hoarse from crying, yet unusually steady."
"I always thought I was doing what was best for them, thought that hiding them was protection."
"Because of that, I never truly listened to what they wanted."
"Until just now, until the moment my companions stood across from me; even a tiny bat could see it… this must be my fault."
"This isn't protection. This is imprisonment.
"People only learn to cherish after losing… turns out that's true." Phila placed her right hand over her heart. "At a moment like this, even something as small as a speck becomes incredibly precious. I feel it deeply."
The weakness in her ruby eyes began to fade.
"So I can't run anymore. If I keep running, I'll lose everything. I'll duel you… and I'll survive!"
Phila placed her fingers on top of her Deck.
"I need to understand what my companions are trying to tell me!"
Under the moonlight.
Raku looked at the girl whose gaze had become unwavering.
"Heh."
He couldn't help it–his lips curled upward, revealing a faint, satisfied smile he himself didn't even notice.
The violent, villainous aura vanished without a trace.
"I set one card. Chain-1 Conquistador of the Golden Land, Chain-2 Huaquero of the Golden Land–chain resolves, I also set Scarlet Sanguine and Black Awakening."
"End of my turn."
"My turn."
Phila took a deep breath. The Duel Disk let out a crisp sound.
"Draw!"
...
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