"This is my full strength!"
Alexis played another card from her hand. The green spell card shimmered with golden light.
"Spell card—Preparation of Rites! fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
Add a Level 7 or lower Ritual Monster from your deck to your hand, then add a Ritual Spell from your graveyard to your hand!"
She searched her deck and revealed her choice.
"I add the Level 6 'Cyber Angel Idaten' from my deck to my hand!"
She shuffled her deck back, then a card shot out of her graveyard.
"The card I discarded for 'Ritual Sanctuary' was the Ritual Spell 'Machine Angel Ritual', which I return to my hand!"
She immediately played the card.
"Ritual Spell—Machine Angel Ritual! Tribute monsters from your hand or field whose total levels equal or exceed that of the Ritual Monster, and Ritual Summon a 'Cyber Angel' from your hand!"
She revealed the two Ritual Monsters she just searched.
"I tribute the Level 6 'Cyber Angel Benten' to Ritual Summon!
Appear, embodiment of light and wisdom—
—Level 6, Cyber Angel Idaten!"
A mechanical altar appeared, and Benten's image flashed and transformed into a pillar of light, from which the tall, imposing Cyber Angel emerged.
[Cyber Angel Idaten, ATK 1600]
In real life, Benten gained the ability to search a LIGHT Fairy when tributed, but this was original to the real cards, not the anime.
But anime characters always draw the cards they need, so they don't need search effects anyway.
Alexis waved her hand.
"'Cyber Angel Idaten' effect! When Ritual Summoned, add a Spell from your graveyard to your hand!" (Anime effect)
The real Idaten could only recover Ritual Spells, but the anime version could recover any spell—each has its pros and cons.
"I retrieve 'Spell Books from the Pot' from my graveyard," Alexis said, "Then activate 'Spell Books from the Pot' again! Both players draw three more cards!"
Kira calmly accepted the extra cards: "Are you trying to decide the duel this turn?"
Though risky to give the opponent resources, under the circumstances, Alexis had no choice but to go all in.
It's similar to playing into Maxx C in modern Yu-Gi-Oh!: if your opponent activates Maxx C, every Special Summon you make lets them draw a card. But sometimes you have to push through and give them a dozen cards, hoping to win that turn.
Even knowing the risk, many duelists choose to go for it. After all, maybe you'll win this turn.
"Then I Normal Summon 'Cyber Petit Angel'!"
[Cyber Petit Angel, ATK 300]
"Cyber Petit Angel's effect: When summoned, add a 'Machine Angel Ritual' from your deck to your hand."
Alexis searched her deck again and immediately played the card she retrieved.
"I activate 'Machine Angel Ritual' again! This time, I tribute 'Cyber Petit Angel' and 'Cyber Angel Idaten' to perform an advanced Ritual Summon!
Illuminate the path forward with brilliance—descend, Angel of Light—
—Level 8, Cyber Angel Dakini!!!"
The two angels vanished into the altar, a spiral of light shot up, and the sacred four-armed angel flew out, holding a long blue staff and twin swords, radiating a queenly aura.
[Cyber Angel Dakini, ATK 2700]
Cyber Angel Dakini—Alexis' ace monster from the TV series.
In real life, 'Cyber Angel Idaten' can grant 1000 ATK to your Ritual Monsters when tributed, but that's a real card effect, not in the anime.
"Cyber Angel Dakini's effect!" Alexis declared, "When Ritual Summoned, your opponent must send a monster they control to the graveyard!
And you only have one monster on the field, so you have no choice—"
She pointed at Kira's field.
"You must send 'XYZ-Dragon Cannon' to the graveyard!"
The audience gasped again.
Some less knowledgeable students were confused. For example, Syrus from Slifer Red: "Wait? Isn't 'XYZ-Dragon Cannon' protected by 'Hyper Coat', making it immune to all effects?"
Bastion, the top student, explained: "Because Dakini's effect targets the duelist, not the monster.
'You must choose a monster you control and send it to the graveyard'—the effect is on the player. Kira chooses to send 'XYZ-Dragon Cannon', so even ultimate immunity doesn't help."
"Whoa, really!?" Syrus exclaimed.
Everyone's admiration for Alexis grew, especially Seika, who seemed to have forgotten their rivalry.
"To find a way to overcome an invincible monster, even with so little LP left..."
"Finding the weakness of absolute immunity?" Kira smiled.
"There's no monster that can't be beaten," Alexis replied, "Every monster has a way to be defeated. That's my answer as a duelist."
"Good answer. But... sorry, I'm not going easy. Before Dakini's effect resolves, I activate my set card!"
Kira raised his arm, flipping his back row.
"Trap Card—Interdimensional Matter Transporter!
Until the end of the turn, banish one face-up monster you control!"
A high-tech device opened a dimensional rift, sucking XYZ-Dragon Cannon away.
Alexis: "!!!"
He dodged it?
"So, when Dakini's effect resolves, I have no monsters on the field," Kira said, "so I can't send anything to the graveyard."
"Trap Card—Card Defense," Kira said, "Activate only when your opponent declares a direct attack. Negate the attack and draw one card."
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