"Promising Knight, David!"

"First Aid Celestial, Peniel!"

Alice's eyes widened as she saw my starter.

"Wait... Shadow Paladin? When did you...?"

"Just like Yukina and Akihiro-san, I also decided to change decks."

It was the first time I was showing anyone else from E Class my new deck.

"Huh... he he he. Somehow, I feel even more confident I'll win now."

She was confident that she'd win against Narukami before?

"What makes you say that?"

"Don't you know? Angel Feather is Shadow Paladin's worst nightmare! We're practically your natural predator!"

It was true that Protect was the strongest gift against Shadow Paladin. Most of our pressure came from the vanguard's attack, but it could be stopped by a single perfect guard. However, her preconceived notion about this clan was a really outdated one.

"In the past perhaps. But things are different now."

Nowadays, thanks to Claret and Luard, Protect was no longer an issue. Luard could make up for lost vanguard pressure with five attacks and Claret could force out two gifts each turn due to being a restander.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You'll see."

Alice narrowed her eyes at me. She's been glaring at me this entire time, doesn't her eyes hurt?

"First Turn: Takanori Yuuto."

"Looks like you're up."

"Yeah."

That was slightly annoying. I was hoping to go second so I could rush her, since the key to winning this fight was having a fast tempo in the early game before switching to a steady tempo in the mid game.

My main concern was Angel Feather tanking my attacks, since my deck is at a severe disadvantage if the game gets dragged out. Even if I can force multiple PGs out at once, Alice can still guard the rest of my attacks and live another turn.

If that were to happen, she would be able to ride up and strike back with a finisher, like Feather Palace or Hamiel, depending on her deck. If she were to pull out cards like that, I'd have a very slim chance of surviving.

"Stand and draw. I ride Apocalypse Bat from my Ride Deck. David's skill, I draw. Bat's skill, I call David from soul. Next, I call Skull Witch, Nemain. Her skill, I rest her and superior call Strict Order Knight, Lluails. Turn end."

Yuuto:
Hand: 5
Damage: 0
Ritual: 1
OXO
XXX

Alice:
Hand: 5
Damage: 0
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw. I discard and ride Spine Celestial, Jophiel from my Ride Deck! Peniel's skill, I draw a card and get a Quick Shield ticket!"

Alice was using Celestial, huh? At least I didn't have to worry about Hamiel.

"I call Black Call, Nakir! Her skill, I scry five and add a grade 3 from among them to my hand! I add Mobile Hospital, Feather Palace, then discard a card!"

Never mind, I have to worry about Feather Palace instead.

"Boosted by Nakir, Jophiel attacks! (8000 > 16000)"

"No guard."

"Drive check! (Bellyful Meds Angel)"

"Damage check. (Mage of Entwined Roots, Awalgin)"

"Turn end!"

Yuuto:
Hand: 5
Damage: 1
Ritual: 1
OXO
XXX

Alice:
Hand: 7
Damage: 0
OXO
OXO

"Stand and draw. Glorification is only fitting for those in the light. Arise from the abyss and ride, Blaster Dark! Dark's skill, I counterblast to retire Nakir."

"She goes to the drop zone."

"Dark's second skill, I discard a card to get drive +1. (10000/1d > 2d) Nemain's skill, I rest her and superior call another Lluails. David moves up. Now, Blaster Dark attacks! (10000/2d) Crossing Diablo!"

"No guard!"

"Twin Drive!! (Belial Owl) Critical, power to David, critical to Dark! (6000 > 16000) (10000/1 > 2/2d) (Abyssal Owl)"

"Damage checks! (Crimson Impact, Metatron, Black Call, Nakir)"

"Boosted by Lluails, David attacks! (16000 > 21000)"

"No guard! (Hygienist Angel)"

"Turn end."

Yuuto:
Hand: 6
Damage: 1
Ritual: 3
OXX
XXX

Alice:
Hand: 7
Damage: 3
OXO
OOO

"Stand and draw! I discard and ride Candle Celestial, Sariel from my Ride Deck! Jophiel's skill, when she's rode upon, I swap the Metatron in my damage with the Zerachiel in my hand! Sariel's skill, I counterblast and soulblast to put a Zerachiel from my deck into my damage zone, then I heal one!"

Slowly but surely, Alice was setting up her damage zone with multiple Zerachiel. This would let her superior ride multiple times, giving her the Protect markers necessary to wall off Claret and get grade 3s in soul for Feather Palace's skill.

I need to go harder and faster next turn. If I don't, I might end up in a real pinch.

"I call, Multi-medical Angel! Boosted by Multi-medical, Sariel attacks! (9000 > 17000)"

"No guard."

"Drive check! (Critical Hit Angel) Critical trigger! All to Sariel! (17000 > 27000/1 > 2)"

"Damage checks. (Blue Espada Dragon, Skull Witch, Nemain)"

"Turn end!"

Yuuto:
Hand: 6
Damage: 3
Ritual: 3
OXX
XXX

Alice:
Hand: 6
Damage: 3
OXO
OXO

"Stand and draw. Only the strong have the right to wield this sword! A true dictator overcomes adversity with strength, and strength alone! I ride my avatar, Claret Sword Dragon!"

"Imaginary Gift: Force II! To the vanguard circle. (13000/1 > 2) Awalgin's skill, since I discarded him, I scry 3 and put Rimmon to the drop zone. Claret's skill, I scry 3 again and put two grade 1s into the drop zone, giving him 20k. (13000 > 33000/2)"

Now I was at seven grade 1s in drop zone.

"Nemain's skill, I rest her and superior call another Lluails. I call Blue Espada, mill three, add a Claret Sword from among them to hand, and he gets +10k since I have five grade 1s in drop. (8000 > 18000) Now that I have five grade 1s on board, all my Lluails get +15k. (5000 > 20000) (5000 > 20000) (5000 > 20000)"

Alice tightened the grip on her cards as the power of my units skyrocketed.

"Claret Sword Dragon attacks! (33000/2) Septimum Eraser!"

"Heal Guardian, Transcendent Divider, Cassiel! (9000 > 24000) Your vanguard loses -2 critical!"

"One critical to pass, huh? (33000/2 > 0)"

"If you can even get one that is."

Having seen my bad luck up close once before, during my fight with Yukina when she used Brandt, Alice was confident that I was unlikely to get any triggers in my Twin Drive. Unfortunately for her, I've found a way to bend Lady Luck in my favour.

"Twin Drive!! (Strict Order Knight, Lluails, Grim Revenger) Critical, all effects on Claret Sword! (33000 > 43000/0 > 1)"

"No way!"

Alice exclaimed, before clicking her tongue in frustration.

"Whatever, you got lucky. (Care Mine Nurse)"

"If you were paying attention to what I was doing early game, you'd realise why I got one now. From the very start of our fight, I've been filtering normal units out of my deck, leaving it compressed with trigger units."

It was a game of probability. The more aggressively I filtered my deck early, the higher chance I'd pull a trigger late game. Alice slammed her fist on the table, growling at me.

"Does it look like I care? Hurry up and get on with your turn! You're seriously pissing me off with this high and mighty act..."

"You really don't like being talked down to, huh? Claret's skill, I counterblast and bind seven grade 1s in my drop zone to restand the vanguard with drive -1. (43000/3/2d > 1d) Skill, activate!"

My visor started glowing claret red.

"Third Fist! When I bind a card, my vanguard gets drive +1, bringing Claret back up to Twin Drive. (43000/3/1d > 2d) Once more, Claret attacks! (43000/3/2d) Nihil Bloodriver!"

"Battle Cupid, Nociel perfect guards!"

"Twin Drive!! (Perennial Knight, Rimmon, Astral Chain Dragon) Heal trigger. I can't heal, but I give power to Espada. (18000 > 28000) Boosted by Lluails, Lluails attacks! (20000 > 40000)"

"F-forty thousand... tch, no guard! (Transcendent Divider, Cassiel) Alright, a heal trigger! Looks like I'm still in this! (9000 > 19000)"

Alice laughed gleefully, but looking at her measly four card hand, it was clear that she would struggle to stop both Lluails' and Espada's attacks. This damage trigger gave her a life line in the form of being able to take my last attack safely without wasting hand.

"Boosted by Lluails, Espada! (28000 > 48000)"

"No guard! (Candle Celestial, Sariel)"

"Turn end."

Yuuto:
Hand: 10
Damage: 3
Ritual: 2
XXX
XXX

Alice:
Hand: 4
Damage: 5
OXO
OXO

"Stand and draw! I discard and ride Arch-aider, Malkuth-melekh from my Ride Deck! Imaginary Gift: Protect I!"

Malkuth-melekh? I didn't expect this to be her opening grade 3 ride. I guess she's going to use its revival effect to build her board before transitioning over to Zerachiel.

"Malkuth's skill, I counterblast two to heal a damage! Then, I use his second skill! I soulblast to call three cards from my drop zone! Return from the grave, Mobile Hospital, Feather Palace, Bellyful Meds Angel, and Hygienist Angel! Then, my front row gets +5k! (12000 > 17000) (12000 > 17000) (7000 > 12000) And I deal myself a damage! (Critical Hit Angel) Critical trigger! I give all effects to Hygienist! (12000 > 22000/1 > 2) Skill, activate!"

Alice's visor began glowing a hot pink.

"Holy Waltz! I search my deck for a card, which will be a third copy of Zerachiel, put it into my damage zone, and then heal a damage! Bellyful Meds' skill, I put her into soul to swap the final copy of Zerachiel in my hand with the Care Mine Nurse in my damage zone!"

And with that, Alice had successfully gotten all four Zerachiel face up into the damage zone.

"I call Care Mine, and with her skill, she gets +20k and boost since I have five damage! (9000 > 29000) Hygienist's skill, for each card in my damage zone, she gets +5k! (22000 > 47000/2) Now, the skills of all four Zerachiel in my damage zone! I put the top four cards of my deck face down to superior ride all of them at once! I quad-ride, Solidify Celestial, Zerachiel!"

"Imaginary Gift: Protect I! Imaginary Gift: Protect I! Imaginary Gift: Protect I! Imaginary Gift: Protect I! Look, Yuuto-san! This is why Shadow Paladin is worthless against my clan! With all these perfect guards, your vanguard won't even be able to reach me!"

Alice laughed as she fanned out her five Protect markers, fearlessly beckoning me to challenge her now that she had the ultimate defence.

"Not only that, since a card was put into my damage zone this turn, Zerachiel gives my front row a further +3k! (17000 > 20000) (12000 > 15000) (47000 > 50000/2) Boosted by Multi-medical, Zerachiel attacks! (15000 > 23000) Blue Wing Arrival!"

"I guard with Grim Revenger, Astral Chain Dragon, and Abyssal Owl. (13000 > 43000) Two to pass."

"Twin Drive!! (Multi-medical Angel, Bellyful Meds Angel) Nothing. Hygienist will attack next! (50000/2)"

Since Alice had Feather Palace ready to go, it was better to use Belial Owl here on this attack.

"Belial Owl and Rimmon guards. (13000 > 53000)"

"Boosted by Care Mine, Feather Palace attacks! (20000 > 49000) Feather Palace's skill, I soulblast two grade 3 and turn all the cards in my damage face down to give him +20k, a critical, and sentinel block! (49000 > 69000/1 > 2) Blow him away, Storm of Saviour!"

"No guard. (Cherishing Knight, Branwen, Claret Sword Dragon)"

"Alright, just one more damage... one more damage, and I'll be freed of you and your blackmail! Turn end!"

Alice huffed, exhausted for having come this far. However, it was only just the beginning of our slow waltz to hell together.

Yuuto:
Hand: 5
Damage: 5
Ritual: 4
XXX
XXX

Alice:
Hand: 10
Damage: 5
XXX
XXO

"Five Protect gifts... what an inconvenience. I wonder, how am I going to beat them?"

The answer was obvious. She might have ten cards in hand, but half of them were only usable on my turn. All I had to do was force her to use at least four of them.

"Stand and draw. On this bloodstained stage of the world, a demonstration of might will overrule all the opposition! Slaughter the competition and pulverise the weaklings into dust! Persona ride my avatar, Claret Sword Dragon!"

"Imaginary Gift: Force II! To Lluails. (20000/1 > 2) Claret's skill, I scry three... and put Awalgin and Branwen into my drop zone. He gets +20k. (13000 > 33000/2)"

I didn't expect to get Awalgin from my mill. That makes things easier for me then.

"I call, Dead Armour Dragon. This is the card that's going to break your hand, Alice-san."

"That puny grade 1? It's only 5k, it's worthless."

"Being 5k means I can tutor him out from the deck with Nemain."

"Aww, how sad to have hard drawn into him instead. Oh well, at least that's one less card in hand for me to deal with later."

Alice giggled confidently.

"Boosted by Lluails, Espada attacks Feather Palace! (20000 > 28000)"

Her giggling stopped abruptly as she saw me go after her rear-guard instead of her vanguard.

"You're that afraid of my finisher, huh? Ha ha ha, that's hilarious! Protect I, perfect guard!"

Her words and reaction are different. She might talk like she's looking down on me for targeting her rears, but really, that's what she wanted to happen the least.

After all, Protect gifts couldn't be called down, meaning those five cards had limited usage on her turn. Also, since she checked two support units last turn, I know her hand doesn't have many aggressive units to attack with.

Assuming she also had a grade 3 prepared for a ride next turn, that would mean Alice's hand was made up of eight cards she couldn't call down next turn. She needed the rear-guards she had right now, or else she wouldn't be able to close out the game.

Plus, with all those sentinels in her hand, the obvious decision would be to guard any attack I launched at the vanguard. As such, I was forcing her to pick between attack and defence by pinning down her front row.

On the off chance she decides to preserve her gifts instead of her rear-guards, that's two less huge columns I have to worry about later too. Essentially, I got more value by attacking her rear-guards rather than attacking her vanguard.

"Boosted by Lluails, Lluails attacks Feather Palace again! (20000 > 40000)"

"Protect I, perfect guard!"

That's two out so far.

"Boosted by Dead Armour, Claret attacks Feather Palace as well! (33000 > 38000/2) Septimum Eraser!"

"Damn, you're persistent... Protect I, perfect guard!"

"Twin Drive!! (Darkside Trumpeter) Critical, all to Claret! (38000 > 48000/2 > 3) (Belial Owl) Critical, all to Claret! (48000 > 58000/3 > 4)"

While it stung a little to get a double critical here, it wasn't the end of the world. It was more shield for next turn.

"Nice drive checks. Shame you swung with your rear-guards first. Well, not like it would've mattered."

Alice snickered, feeling high and mighty as she thought she had successfully defended against my assault.

"How does it feel to waste a turn doing absolutely nothing? Like I said, Angel Feather is your clan's natural predator. You don't stand a chance against me!"

"I wouldn't be so sure about that. Claret's skill."

"What? But you don't have seven grade 1s in drop."

"I don't need to bind seven when I have Awalgin. When I bind him, he counts as seven himself."

Alice's eyes widened.

"But I thought Claret had no ways to..."

"Aren't you friends with Taiga-san? She loves the deck, probably even more so than I do."

"Just because I'm friends with her doesn't mean I've seen her use it before!"

"Then consider this a taste of what we can do. I counterblast and bind Awalgin to restand the vanguard with drive -1! (53000/4/2d > 1d) Once more, Claret attacks Feather Palace! (53000/4/1d) Remember how I said Dead Armour would break your hand?"

"Yeah...?"

"I'll use his skill to soulblast and retire him to give my vanguard Battledore. Nihil Bloodriver!"

Alice's jaw dropped.

"W-wait... Battledore? As in... I have to call two cards from hand to guardian circle, that Battledore?!"

"That's right. Instead of using two cards to guard this attack like you normally would, now you'll have to use three!"

Alice narrowed her eyes, snarling at me while seething with anger.

"Damn it... eurgh, I perfect guard with Protect I and add Metatron to guard!"

"Drive check! (Darkside Trumpeter) Just another critical. Turn end."

And with that, I had successfully made her discard nine cards from hand this turn.

Yuuto:
Hand: 7
Damage: 5
Ritual: 6
XXX
XOX

Alice:
Hand: 1
Damage: 5
XXX
XXO

OST: Condemnation Wings II

"Haa... haa... this is bad..."

Alice was beginning to panic. Staring at the last card in her hand, a Protect gift, it was slowly dawning on her that she had to win on this turn or else I'd run away with a victory on my turn.

She thought that with five Protect markers, she'd be able to survive for multiple turns, but had greatly underestimated me because of my clan. She wasn't prepared at all to fight me.

Due to her carelessness, Alice was agonising over what she could do now. She had to win here, otherwise she'd lose control of her life.

The manipulator would become the manipulated.

"Ah... ahh... ahh, mou! What am I supposed to do...?! If I don't draw something useful, I'm going to lose...!"

Her breathing got heavier and heavier as the pressure caught up to her. She slammed her singular Protect on the table and buried her face into her hands, moaning.

"Damn it... damn it, damn it, damn it! Damn it Yuuto, you've really screwed things up for me!"

Ripping away her hands, I was met with the face of a demon, not an angel.

"There's nothing in the rules stating I can't attack your rear-guards."

"I'm not talking about that... I'm talking about how you decided to go putting your nose in places where it doesn't belong and start snooping about my life! How can you live with yourself after doing such an awful thing, huh?! Especially to a woman!"

"I guess this is cosmic karma for what you've done in the past."

"How is this fair?! There are people with worse pasts than me out there! You know that Isogai literally pushed K... K..."

"Kouji-san?"

Even now, Alice still couldn't utter his name without feeling sick.

"Yes, that bastard! Isogai nearly killed him, but you're going after me? Where's the logic in that?!"

"You're the one who told him to do it. You can't hide behind someone over things that you've started."

"I'm not hiding behind him... I'm saying that we're both equally at fault!"

"Oh. So you admit to it, huh?"

In order to lessen her admittance of guilt, Alice split the blame with Matsushita, sharing it 50/50 in order to try and look better.

"Yes! Yes, I admit to it! There's no point hiding it anymore if you know! I wanted him to die! I wanted K... K... ugh! I wanted that bastard dead in the water!"

Alice broke, crying while screaming incoherently at me.

"I just wanted to be number one at something... I just wanted someone to praise me! Why did no one ever tell me that I was a good girl for working hard...? Why did no one ever celebrate my achievements...? Why did no one ever congratulate me on doing well...? It's all because no one cares about the failures that don't come in first place! Nobody praises the losers stuck behind the winners! We're worthless and inferior for only getting second place... just like our ranking!"

Alice's view on coming second was a twisted reflection of her own self-hatred for being unable to beat Kouji in academics.

"I tried so hard... I tried harder than anyone else... but no one ever recognised it! Because of him, nothing went right! That first place spot... it should've been mine, not his! I studied so hard everyday, I even threw up from the stress multiple times! But that bastard never studied... all he did was mess around in class with his stupid friends! All he did was mock me whenever he came in first! He laughed at me and ridiculed me! Everything in life was too easy for a natural genius like him... I hate it so much!"

A wicked black and red aura bubbled around her.

"I used to be loved by everyone... I was the best at everything... I was Sakigamiya Alice, the model pupil... but then middle school happened... and I wasn't anymore! I became an unimportant average nobody... there were people better than me in looks, sports, and academics... everything that made me important disappeared. I had to get it back somehow... you understand that much don't you, Yuuto...?"

As her emotions wildly spilled out, the aura grew behind her, becoming a backdrop of darkness.

"You were also a nobody... someone with nothing of note when I first met you... but then, suddenly out of nowhere, you became a somebody... you showed off how strong you were... you showed off how smart you were... you showed off your leadership skills too... and that got me to realise that I needed you by my side."

Alice looked up at me, tears scraping down her face like claw marks.

"But I guess... that was a mistake too... ha ha... I mean, look at us! You're trying to blackmail me... and I'm trying to blackmail you back... and now we're fighting with cards, ha ha... we're such animals, Yuuto. We're such, such animals... and even an animal has an instinct to survive... right? Ha ha ha..."

Alice laughed derisively, before violently ripping off the top card of her deck.

"That's why I can't allow it... I absolutely can't allow myself to be ruined because of you! I won't let you take my life away from me, Yuuto! I'd rather die than become some kind of slave to you! Stand and draw!"

The card she drew was glowing in a haze of reverse red.

"What's... this?"

Alice looked at her card, breaking out into a thin smile.

"Oh... oh, thank you God! Thank you, thank you for blessing me with the answer! I knew you loved me! I knew you wouldn't leave me for dead! Ha ha ha... this is it! This is what I needed!"

It was no God who gave her that card.

"Wings dyed in pitch black, arise in shining turquoise, and arrive in flashing pure white! The stars burn crimson under her loving miracle... I ride my true avatar, Cleanup Celestial, Ramiel "Яeverse"!"

It was a mysterious phenomenon that no one could explain— Inverse Syndrome.

In 2022, it was discovered that fighters all over the world were able to manifest "Я" cards through their own will. The first case of it was recorded in Japan, when a woman named Izanoku Shinoa managed to summon a "Я" version of Luquier.

The trigger behind this strange occurrence is still unknown, but the leading theory is that "strong emotions" causes it. Considering how frantic Alice became over the course of this fight, it makes sense.

"Imaginary Gift: Protect I! At the start of my battle phase, Ramiel's skill! I countercharge one, then lock all my rear-guards with different card names to face up cards in my damage zone! That means all four of my rear-guards get locked! Then, for every two of my locked rear-guards, I retire one of your rear-guards and she gets +20k! I retire Lluails and Espada and Ramiel gets +40k! (12000 > 52000)"

Still though, this is my first time seeing the manifestation ever happen up close before. I've obviously heard of Inverse Syndrome from my mom once, but I never imagined it to be this dramatic... locking your own rear-guards to become stronger, huh?

"Yuuto-san... this is for your sake. I ride... Demise Queen, Himiko "Яeverse"!"

What an irritating memory... to think I'd also run into her again of all places.

"Ramiel "Яeverse" attacks! (52000) Her skill, I soulblast a grade 3 to get drive +1! (52000/2d > 3d) Then, you can counterblast 2! If you don't, then when you would call cards from your hand to guard, you have to call the same number of cards as there is in my damage zone!"

Forced counterblast, huh...?

"Skill of Quasar, counterblast and G Persona Blast! You can flip two damage face down, and for each you do not or cannot flip, I draw a card! How do you like that, Yuu?"

When she said those words, it chipped away at my rationality.

"Since I have five, you'll have to call five at once! Cut open the stars and fly away into eternity, Soaring Skyhook!"

For a moment, the figure of Alice overlapped with him.

All this talk about damage and stars... it's so irritating. Stop reminding me of that man...

"...I'll counterblast two, then guard with Belial Owl and two Darkside Trumpeter. (13000 > 43000 > 58000 > 73000) Three to pass."

"Triple Drive!!! (Hot Shot Celestial, Samyaza) Critical trigger! All to Ramiel! (52000 > 62000/1 > 2/3d) (Battle Cupid, Nociel) Draw trigger! All to Ramiel and I draw! (62000 > 72000/2/3d)"

Alice flinched as she saw what she drew.

"Just one more... one more trigger, and I win! Last check!!"

I closed my eyes.

Ramiel's scissors were on the verge of smashing into Claret, but he parried its tungsten blades by swinging his sword upwards.

Then, I opened them.

"No... no, no, no! (Mobile Hospital, Feather Palace)"

Alice screamed, hitting the table. The wicked aura from earlier had disappeared, giving up on her when it mattered the most.

"Why now...? Why now of all times?! Why is my luck always the worst?! Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

Like before, Alice started screaming and crying uncontrollably again. The image of a strong girl she had built around herself had finally crumbled, revealing the fragile little girl that laid secretly underneath.

"I can't lose... not here... not to you of all people! Not to a loser like you... argh, I hate you! I hate you, Yuuto!"

In a last ditch attempt to act tough, Alice started to sloppily insult me.

"Are you going to end your turn?"

"Huh...? I'm insulting you and all you care about is this stupid game...? You're not right in the head!"

"You're the one who wanted to play."

"Because I thought I could beat you in Vanguard! It was the only way I knew how to make you stop blackmailing me!"

"And look where that got you... how does it feel to be the loser now, Alice-san?"

"Shut up! You're the loser for doing all this! You'll forever be a loser in my eyes! A shameless and creepy loser who snoops into other people's pasts and blackmails girls for fun! Die!"

"What?"

"I said die, Yuuto! I want you to die! I'm telling you to die! Die, die, die!"

Once again, her words and her reaction didn't match. Despite how passionately she was yapping at me, Alice was sobbing and shaking the entire time.

She knew her fate was coming, but did everything she could to reject it until the very end to try and hold onto any last shreds of dignity she had left.

"I guess I'll start my turn."

Yuuto:
Hand: 4
Damage: 5
Ritual: 8
OXO
XOX

Alice:
Hand: 4
Damage: 5
XXX
XXO

I picked up the top card of my deck.

"Stand and draw. I call Lluails, Rimmon, and Branwen. Branwen's skill, whiff. My three Lluails and Branwen power up from their skills. (5000 > 20000) (5000 > 20000) (5000 > 20000) (8000 > 13000) Boosted by Branwen, Claret attacks! (13000 > 26000/2) Septimum Eraser!"

I had four attacks. She could only guard two of them. This game was mine.

"...I perfect guard with Nociel!"

The card she discarded was the card she drew off Nociel... a critical trigger. That's why she looked disappointed seeing what she drew. If she hadn't, she would've broke through my guard and won.

Even so, Alice wiped away her tears and bitterly fought until the very end. If she didn't, then she would've succumbed to me without trying.

"Twin Drive!! (Skull Witch, Nemain, Death Feather Eagle) Critical, all to Lluails. (20000 > 30000/1 > 2) Claret's skill, I counterblast and bind seven grade 1s in drop zone to restand the vanguard with drive -1! (13000/2/2d > 1d)"

Knowing her stubborn personality, there was no way she would accept that. Ironically, she wouldn't surrender until she tried everything she could to get first place, even if it meant resorting to something as drastic as killing him.

That's why she was so obsessed with outperforming Kouji. She was the type of person who hated losing without giving it her all.

"Claret attacks! (13000/2/1d) Nihil Bloodriver!"

"Protect I, perfect guard!"

"Drive check! (Blue Espada Dragon)"

With no more cards left in hand, Alice could see the writing on the wall for her.

"Boosted by Lluails, Lluails attacks! (30000 > 50000/2)"

This fight wouldn't end with a bang.

"No guard... (Crimson Impact, Metatron)"

But with a whimper.

"Uuu... uuu... uuu... uuu..."

Alice buried her face into the table, crying after an embarrassing defeat.