NOVEL WEB Chapter 21: DSMW [21]
"Do you want to become a hero who protects everyone?"
Having listened to Irene's past, Miles felt that the red-haired beauty standing before him was simply too cool in this moment.
At the same time, Miles realized his previous mistake.
In this Elves' Continent, it wasn't that you could become a hero just because you wanted to play a HERO Deck.
Rather, it's those who wanted to become heroes who were granted HERO cards.
"My turn. Draw."
Inspired by Irene's resolve, even drawing a card felt more thrilling for Miles—he practically wanted to draw two.
Of course, no matter how fired up he was, the tactics Aisha's Deck could employ hadn't changed.
"I Set a monster in face-down Defense Position, then Set one card. Turn end."
A familiar one Monster Set, one Spell/Trap Set, and turn ends at lightning speed—everyone watching was already used to Aisha's playstyle. Calling it a "stall-heavy trap Deck from hell" would be an overstatement—Aisha didn't even run that many powerful or nasty Trap Cards.
Whichever way you looked at it, her strategy was just simple endurance—there was no visible opportunity for a counterattack.
Even in her Duel against Kevin, if she hadn't lucked into drawing Red-Eyes Black Dragon for a last-minute reversal, she'd have been beaten from start to finish.
"Told you it was luck. No way the class underdog could've beaten the top student otherwise."
Meanwhile, those who had bet on Aisha losing in the gambling pool Irena set up were already smugly showing off, flaunting their 'wisdom' and 'foresight.'
"My turn. Draw." Irene began her turn with a draw, then cheerfully said to her opponent, "If you only keep defending like that, you'll never beat me, Ai-chan."
Miles retorted, "Only if you can get past Crowned by the World Chalice's 2100 Defense first."
"Eh? You really think I can't break through… Hehe, don't underestimate me, then. Time to show you my brand new HERO!"
After drawing her card, Irene threw down a Monster Card onto the Duel Field.
Accompanied by a crackling flash of light, a cool Elemental HERO descended onto Fusion Academy.
"I Summon in Attack Position—Elemental HERO Sparkman!"
[Elemental HERO Sparkman] Level 4│LIGHT│Warrior│1600 ATK
Aisha said, "That's the new monster Ren-chan summoned yesterday. Pika-pika, and it's even got a mask—definitely cool! But the Attack isn't very high. Can't beat the World Chalice priestess."
"Which means… you've got a follow-up, right, Ren?"
"Of course!"
Smiling, Irene drew out a Spell Card from her hand, traced a streak of electricity with it, and hurled it toward Sparkman on the field.
"Equip Spell Card Spark Blaster—activate! Equip to Elemental HERO Sparkman!"
The weapon, entirely out of place in this swords-and-magic fantasy world, had a design brimming with futuristic sci-fi flair. Sparkman grabbed it in his hand.
Yet even after a successful Equip, Sparkman's ATK didn't change at all—prompting confusion from the crowd.
"That gun looks crazy strong—why doesn't it add any ATK?"
"Doesn't add Defense either. What's the point of equipping it?"
The more confused the crowd grew, the more smug Irene became—her lips curling in a mischievous tower of triumph.
Miles said, "Spark Blaster, Sparkman's exclusive Equip Card. It doesn't boost stats, but once equipped, it lets you change the position of a face-up opposing monster. Am I wrong?"
"No way…" Irene's grin instantly vanished. "Ai-chan, you actually knew the card's effect? That doesn't make sense."
Spark Blaster, Irene's supposed trump card, was indeed Sparkman's exclusive Equip Spell.
If you hadn't Summoned Sparkman before, you shouldn't even be able to see this card in the Magic Directory.
That was one of the Continent of Elves' Spellcrafting rules.
Certain monsters or series-exclusive Spells/Traps couldn't even be viewed—let alone crafted—unless you had first Summoned their related monster.
There was no way Aisha could've known what Spark Blaster did.
But Miles was different.
Once upon a time, Miles had wanted to use a HERO Deck—there's no way he wouldn't have memorized their effects. Even if Spark Blaster was a card that most HERO Decks wouldn't bother including.
"Since you already know the effect, guess I've got no choice." Irene pointed to the monster on Aisha's field—Crowned by the World Chalice, in Defense Position.
"Change Crowned by the World Chalice from Defense to Attack Position. Fire—Spark Blaster! Thunder Shot!"
A bolt of electricity fired from the weapon's barrel and hit the blue-haired priestess square in her modest chest.
A surge of tingling voltage coursed through her body, leaving the pure and adorable priestess dazed, tongue sticking out in a comical 'ahegao' expression.
[Crowned by the World Chalice, DEF: 2100 → ATK: 0]
Irene said, "Though it has a high 2100 Defense, its 0 Attack is this card's biggest weakness."
Forcing Aisha's monster into Attack Position—especially with 0 ATK—meant that battling it would deal just as much damage as a direct attack.
"Let's end this in one blow!" Irene immediately threw down her second Spell Card of the turn.
"Burn bright, my HERO! Spell Card H - Heated Heart—activate!"
[Target 1 monster you control; it gains 500 ATK until the end of this turn. If it attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing battle damage.]
A fiery symbol in the shape of a massive "H" materialized, transferring its power to Sparkman.
Flames and electricity intertwined, transforming Sparkman into the coolest HERO Irene had ever prepared for a final strike.
"Elemental HERO Sparkman—Blazing Form!"
[Elemental HERO Sparkman, ATK: 1600 → 2100]
Standing on the opposite side of the field, Miles could feel the heat of the flames ahead through Aisha's soft, sensitive cheek.
"Finish this, Sparkman!—Lightning Flame Rider Kick!"
With 2100 Attack, the HERO's flying Rider Kick exploded straight through the 0 ATK priestess.
Crowned by the World Chalice was destroyed!
...
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