NOVEL WEB Chapter 16: DSMW [16]
After the nuclear blast of Inferno Fire Blast, Kevin's Life Points hit zero, officially ending the Duel.
What was supposed to be a routine weekly practical test turned into a result that shook all of Fusion Academy.
Aisha Yuna Carlos had won.
The very last-ranked first-year, on the verge of expulsion, had defeated Kevin Seth, the elite, with a perfect win record in practical tests.
Even more staggering, she'd turned the Duel around using Kevin's own Red-Eyes Black Dragon—while on just 100 LP.
A miraculous comeback worthy of being recorded in Fusion Duel Academy's history.
"Miss Erin, I... I won, right?" Aisha said, unable to believe what had just happened.
At the moment of victory, Miles withdrew from her body without lingering, returning to the Millennium Puzzle just as they had agreed—he would only act during Duels.
Miss Erin stood frozen for a while, but her professionalism quickly brought her back.
"Yes, you won, Aisha." Erin formally announced, "The winner of the practical test between Kevin Seth and Aisha Yuna Carlos is... Aisha Carlos!"
"..."
For several seconds, silence hung in the air—then, as the curtain fell, thunderous cheers erupted.
"OHHHHHHHHH!"
"This actually happened?!"
"Kevin the Invincible has fallen!"
"Aisha beat him with Red-Eyes Black Dragon! What a legendary comeback!"
"So that cute girl doesn't have to leave school anymore? I guess I still have a chance."
"No, you definitely don't." Among the crowd of second-years, Irena Kartel crushed the fantasy of a hopeful student.
"Aisha Yuna Carlos will no doubt become a great Duelist. People like you shouldn't even think about approaching her. Right, Kaima?"
"Hmph. What's that got to do with me?"
Despite his brother being defeated, Kaima—the eldest son of the Seth family—showed no anger. He simply watched Aisha with a blank expression.
"Thank goodness. Aisha doesn't have to drop out now."
As her childhood friend, Irene Austin had wanted nothing more than for Aisha to win and stay in the Academy.
Even so, Irene felt something was... off.
Not because of the outcome, but because Aisha had acted so differently during the Duel.
Having grown up with her, Irene knew Aisha better than anyone.
That Duel style? It wasn't hers.
No exaggeration—it was like she had become someone else.
"Maybe I'm just overthinking it... That was definitely Aisha. No way something that magical could actually happen."
She shook her head, trying to dispel the weird thoughts.
After the Duel, Miss Erin began calculating the students' credit points.
Winning the test earned Aisha 30 base credits—enough to avoid expulsion.
However, more importantly, just as Miles had analyzed before taking the Magic Debt, defeating Kevin—who had a perfect win record—was like opening the treasure chest guarded by the final boss.
A whopping 350 bonus credits were awarded for beating Kevin!
Combined with the base 30, that totaled 380 credits, which converted 1:1 into Magic Points!
That same day, Aisha rushed to the Fusion Academy Library and repaid the 110 Magic Points she owed—principal and interest.
She even got a sweet smile from librarian Irena Kartel, "I knew you could do it."
[Magic Points: 270]
"I'm rich! Wait, no, I mean—I'm loaded with Magic Points! What cards should we craft next, Mr. Miles?!"
Cradling the library's Magic Directory, Aisha now trusted Miles 120% after their victory.
And she was undeniably starting to rely on him emotionally.
Maybe this Millennium Puzzle, and Miles within it, really had been sent by heaven to save her—and the Carlos family.
Every time she thought that, a peaceful happiness lifted her lips.
"270 points, huh..." Miles mused. "With that much, crafting a B-rank card isn't out of the question."
Like [Mirror Force] or [Magic Cylinder], brutal trap cards that, in the first-year environment of Fusion Academy's clash-heavy Duels, could flip the game single-handedly.
There were also utility-heavy B-rank Spells like [Monster Reborn].
And then there was one particularly tempting Spell Card, the Academy's symbol: [Polymerization].
According to Miles's observations, Duels on the Continent of Elves lacked a defined Extra Deck.
Which meant [Polymerization], if played with enough confidence, was practically a card printer—"everything can be fused."
But for Aisha's current Deck, those practical B-rank cards didn't actually enhance her weakling monsters' combat power.
So, with 100 Magic Points, Miles chose a card nobody else ever would.
"Then this one it is. I trust you, Mr. Miles."
Without hesitation, Aisha threw her points at the card Miles had chosen.
"Let's win even more Duels with this one, Mr. Miles!"
On Aisha's side, everything was triumphant.
On Kevin Seth's side... it was complicated.
He had lost a practical test, and with it, his 100% win streak.
Still, that wasn't the main issue.
What Kevin couldn't stomach was his opponent.
Aisha Carlos, the lowest-ranked student in the first-year class of Fusion Academy... and worse, a girl.
Just as the rumors said, Kevin Seth hated women.
Childhood trauma within the Seth family had instilled a deep resentment toward strong-willed women. He had sworn never to lose to a single one.
Yet just halfway into the semester, that vow had been shattered.
But the real reason Kevin's heart was in turmoil... was something else.
Even after being beaten by Aisha Carlos, he didn't feel the same disgust he usually felt when losing to a woman.
On the contrary, he felt thrilled—like he'd found a destined rival.
"It's too weird. Especially during the Duel, Aisha Carlos... felt nothing like those bothersome women."
As the number one in his year, Kevin Seth found himself... lost.
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going!
[Patreon.com/RedZTL]