"I activate the Trap Card in my back row–Vampire Awakening."
The card that had been sitting alone on the field flipped open, its violet-red Trap light dispersing some of the chill from the castle floor.
Vampire Awakening. And also Phila's true awakening.
Phila didn't look at Raku across from her. Instead, she fixed her gaze on this card.
"Its effect: Special Summon 1 'Vampire' monster from the Deck. The monster Special Summoned by this effect is destroyed during the End Phase of this turn."
Her hand hovered above the Deck. That was her Deck–not something that could be casually taken away by others.
"I Special Summon Fraulein in Defense Position!" She raised her head, her voice completely steady now. "Under the blood moon, awaken from your long slumber–Vampire Fraulein."
The cold moonlight streaming through the dome was instantly dyed crimson.
Hundreds, thousands of black bats with red eyes burst out from Phila's Deck. The swarm gathered and spiraled in midair, finally settling firmly on her field.
The lace parasol opened, and the blonde, red-eyed Fraulein once again stood before Phila. She turned back and gave Phila a faint but reassuring smile.
On the opposite field, the Fraulein on Raku's side immediately lost the light in her eyes, leaving only a hollow projection.
The spirit had shifted. Her sister had returned to her side.
Phila's heart pounded violently.
"And now, I Normal Summon Moissa Wight."
The card was placed down.
A skeletal warrior clad in purple knight armor, holding a violet shield and a one-handed sword, rose from the ground, firmly standing in front of Phila.
"I activate Moissa Wight's second effect: when this card is Normal or Special Summoned, I can add 1 'Skull Servant' monster, except 'Moissa Wight', or 1 card that mentions it from my Deck to my hand. For the rest of this turn, I cannot Special Summon monsters except Zombies."
A card popped out from the Deck.
"I add Wightlord to my hand."
Phila pulled the card out without hesitation.
"Next, because of Moissa Wight's third effect: while this card is in the Monster Zone, I gain 1 additional Normal Summon of a Level 4 or lower Zombie monster during my Main Phase."
She drew out the card that had just been singing on the opponent's field.
"And the monster I Normal Summon is Uni-Zombie! Come back to my side–Uni-Zombie!"
Black soil churned once again, and the two zombies singing side by side appeared on Phila's field. As they let out their strained cries, the Uni-Zombie on Raku's field lowered its head as well, losing its vitality.
"Now… they're back."
Phila clenched her fist. In her ruby eyes, not a trace of cowardice remained–only unwavering determination.
The light and shadows within the castle quietly shifted.
The moonlight that had once focused on the center of the hall had somehow changed. That bright beam now completely enveloped Phila, illuminating her black-and-white dress.
Meanwhile, Raku, on the opposite side, now had most of his body hidden within the elongated shadows cast by the pillars.
A satisfied curve rose at the corner of his lips.
Well done.
But that expression was entirely concealed in the darkness, and Phila, standing in the moonlight, saw none of it.
"And then, I activate Uni-Zombie's second effect!" Phila took a deep breath, pointing forward. "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 I control other than Zombies cannot attack until the end of the turn."
This was the step she feared the most.
Sending her companions into that dark place.
But running away solved nothing.
"I will–"
Phila clenched her teeth.
"I send Wightbaking to the Graveyard!"
Those words echoed clearly through the castle.
The top card of the Deck glowed. There was no terrifying image of being swallowed by darkness–Skull Servant King holding a skewer stepped out.
Instead of walking into darkness, Wightbaking turned and walked toward Phila's softly glowing Graveyard.
Before completely disappearing, it stopped, turned around, and nodded at Phila. Its skeletal jaw moved.
"Thank you, Phila."
It was a voice filled with ease, satisfaction, and relief.
"For giving me… a proper burial."
Phila stared blankly at the numbers flickering in the Graveyard.
…So this is it.
Is this what they wanted? Is this the destination of the undead?
She had always thought it was a cold prison… the end of death. But she never understood that for beings who had already passed on, what they longed for most was precisely this: a destination that was acknowledged and respected.
A proper burial.
Only by facing death and accepting the cycle could their power truly begin to function.
"Yes!"
Phila nodded firmly, raising the back of her hand to wipe away the last trace of tears from her past.
"Then I activate Wightbaking's third effect in the Graveyard: when this card is sent to the Graveyard, I can add a total of 2 monsters from my Deck to my hand, then discard 1 card."
Phila quickly drew two cards from the Deck and displayed them.
"I add Wightprincess and King of the Skull Servants to my hand, then discard Wightprince from my hand!"
The small skeletal prince fell into the Graveyard.
"After that, I activate the Continuous Spell from my hand–Wight Reanimator!"
As the phantom image of the Spell Card appeared, countless white bone fragments burst out from the cracks in the marble floor, piling up before Phila.
"Next, I activate Uni-Zombie's first effect: I target 1 face-up monster on the field, discard 1 card, and increase that monster's Level by 1. I continue to target Uni-Zombie, and discard King of the Skull Servants from my hand!"
The first true king was sent to the Graveyard as a cost.
Phila's movements did not pause for even a moment, as if she had practiced this countless times.
"Now, I activate Wightprincess's third effect from my hand: I send this card from my hand or field to the Graveyard to activate it. All monsters on the field lose Attack and Defense equal to their Level or Rank × 300 until the end of the turn. This effect can also be activated during the opponent's turn."
The little skeletal girl in a dress flashed briefly, turning into a cloud of bone ash that attempted to weaken Eldlich's power.
It seemed Phila intended to finish Raku here; however, Raku would not let it end so easily.
"Don't think it'll go that smoothly!" Raku waved his hand, flipping open a set card in his back row. "I activate Conquistador of the Golden Land's effect: while I control an 'Eldlich' monster, when a monster effect, Spell, or Trap is activated, I can Tribute 1 Zombie monster I control to negate that activation and destroy it!"
He pointed forward.
"I Tribute my Uni-Zombie. Wightprincess's effect is negated."
Golden sludge instantly swallowed Uni-Zombie, scattering the cloud of bone ash. Eldlich's towering body remained unmoved.
"Afterward, I activate Wight Reanimator's second effect: once per turn, I target 1 'Skull Servant' or 'King of the Skull Servants' in my Graveyard. I send 1 'Skull Servant' or a monster that mentions it from my Deck to the Graveyard, then Special Summon the targeted monster. After this effect resolves, I cannot Special Summon monsters except Zombies until the end of the turn."
Phila placed her hand on her Graveyard.
"I target King of the Skull Servants, then send The Lady in Wight from my Deck to the Graveyard. After that–Special Summon King of the Skull Servants in Attack Position!"
Boom!
A massive skeleton clad in a tattered crimson cloak slowly rose from the ground.
"And now, in my Graveyard, there are Skull Servant, The Lady in Wight, Wightprincess, Wightprince, and Wightbaking–five Skeletons!"
Phila lifted her head, her eyes shining brightly.
"Therefore, King of the Skull Servants' Attack becomes 5000!"
[King of the Skull Servants, ATK: ? → 5000]
Boundless black energy surged from the Skeleton King's body, its oppressive aura rivaling even Eldlich's.
"Now, Battle Phase!" Phila shouted. "King of the Skull Servants attacks Eldlich the Golden Lord! Vampire Fraulein's second effect: once during damage calculation when a Zombie monster I control battles, I can pay Life Points in multiples of 100, up to 3000. That monster gains Attack and Defense equal to the amount paid during that damage calculation!"
"So I chain to your Vampire Fraulein–Chain-2, my Vampire Fraulein's effect!"
Raku revealed a ferocious grin from within the shadows.
"I pay 2500 LP! Do you have the resolve to give your life for your companions?!"
The Fraulein on Raku's field bit down hard on his neck.
[Raku, LP: 7200 → 4700]
[Eldlich the Golden Lord, ATK: 3500 → 6000]
That bite–he definitely did that on purpose. Raku twitched his lips.
Hearing Raku's challenge, Phila did not retreat.
"You don't need to tell me… if what lies ahead is an endless abyss, as long as I'm with my companions, we'll carve out a path forward!"
She met the crimson gaze behind her.
"I pay 3000 LP!"
Vampire Fraulein appeared behind Phila, gently biting her neck.
[Phila, LP: 4500 → 1500]
"Fight with me! Together with my share!"
Crimson power surged into the skeleton's body.
[King of the Skull Servants, ATK: 5000 → 8000]
The Skeleton King flexed its massive bones, producing a grating crack, then its jaw opened as it spoke.
"As thanks, I shall strike only once!"
Before the words even finished, the Skeleton King leapt forward, its decayed yet death-laden fist smashing through Eldlich's defenses with unstoppable force.
The golden body shattered instantly.
Right after, that punch, carrying terrifying wind pressure, struck Raku squarely in the abdomen.
Raku was sent flying by the immense force, crashing heavily onto the stone floor.
[Raku, LP: 4700 → 2700]
"Kgh…"
Raku clutched his stomach and slowly got up from the ground.
"That punch had quite a bit of personal grudge in it, didn't it?"
He looked at the white-haired girl across from him, who was slightly out of breath.
"You've really grown, Phila."
There was no longer any mockery or hostility in his voice; only pure praise and warmth.
Only after those words reached her ears did Phila realize it.
She looked at Raku's faintly indulgent smile, then recalled what Wightbaking had said to him earlier when it entered the Graveyard… "Thank you."
Phila felt a mix of emotions, but still said, "My turn ends. Thank you, Mr. Spirit."
...
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