A Duel with the Imperial Marshal—a battle of purest rebellion.

From the Spirit Eyes on Miles's arm, the glow signaled the first turn advantage.

"My turn, draw!"

As the Duel began, in the Millennium Puzzle's Soul Room, Aisha grew worried.

"Miles, if it's not a Shadow Game, what if he refuses to acknowledge defeat and cheats after losing?"

…A spirited thought indeed.

Even against the legendary Duelist of the Varian Empire, her first concern was what would happen if Miles won, not the possibility of losing.

Yet Miles himself already sensed this would be the hardest battle of his life.

"Idiot Aisha, have you seen too many Shadow Games lately? You've misunderstood what a Duel really means."

Despite being a native of the Spirit Continent, Aisha still didn't understand Duels as well as Miles did.

"Don't underestimate a Duel. This is real combat."

Though he often called Duels "card games," in essence, they were entirely different.

Here on the Spirit Continent, a Duel was no less than a real battle. Even without Shadow Games, it was sword against sword, spell against spell.

Duelists on the battlefield—special units, city guards, royal soldiers—fought without Shadow Games, yet still stood as the strongest force.

Their blades were cards. To win a Duel meant pressing the edge of a "Duel Monster" against your opponent's throat.

On the battlefield, if you had the resolve to kill, you could erase a defeated opponent even without Shadow Games.

Shadow Games only magnified this truth, forcing even reluctant Duelists to stake their cards and their lives.

That they damaged souls, and could strip away cards directly without a Duelist's will—these were the true reasons Shadow Games were banned.

'As long as I win this Duel, blade to throat, even the Marshal can't take it back.'

Besides, from what Miles knew of Duel Monsters anime, villains who refused to honor the results only met worse ends.

"Don't depend on Shadow Games, Aisha. Otherwise, you're no better than those scum."

"Waaah, don't scold me, Miles, I know I was wrong!"

"…You're conversing with someone, aren't you? In your soul."

The Millennium Eye in Locke's face pierced straight through, sensing Miles's dialogue with Aisha.

"Is spying on others' privacy the Marshal's hobby?"

"No, not my intent. I don't know the content of your talk, but I did hear your concern about the result. Then let me add a condition."

"Condition?"

"I've no desire to bully one yet untested. If you can inflict damage on me in this Duel, you win."

"What kind of joke is that? Just dealing damage means I win?"

He was being underestimated—utterly.

And this condition, imposed after the Duel began… what made him so confident?

No—Miles realized. The Millennium Eye had already exposed both starting hands. Only after knowing them did Locke dare to add this disadvantage.

It was a gambler's raise. Holding a good hand, he wanted to bet bigger, to win more.

"What do you want in return for such a handicap?"

"Nothing major. If I still win under these terms, you'll hand me your Millennium Puzzle."

"Eh?! He's after the Puzzle, too? Miles, just how wide is your appeal… you're even targeted by old men now?!"

Dark Aisha yelled, "Scumbag!"

"Stop talking, Aisha."

Locke Slint wanted the Puzzle for power, not for Miles. At least, Miles hoped so… otherwise it was too disgusting.

"I accept."

He couldn't afford to lose, regardless. If victory meant just dealing damage, why refuse?

"Good! I like the fire of youth. Let's continue!"

The terms set, Miles no longer hid his hand, knowing the Eye had seen everything anyway.

"I Normal Summon Queen's Knight in Defense Position, and set 1 card. Turn end."

[Queen's Knight] Level 4│LIGHT│Warrior│1500 ATK / 1600 DEF

Shield raised, the armored knight materialized on Miles's field.

The Eye swept across, and Aisha shivered under its invasive power.

"So that's your card. No problem. I see your Deck lacks many strong cards, Aisha Carlos. But often such Decks better reveal the Duelist's true nature."

For once, an opponent who didn't mock their "weak" Deck.

That brief exchange already made the Marshal's presence feel towering.

"My turn, draw."

Locke placed a monster in Defense Position.

"I set Defender—Banisher of Light."

[Banisher of Light Level 3│LIGHT│Fairy│100 ATK / 2000 DEF]

[While this card is face-up, any card sent to the Graveyard is banished instead.]

A graveyard lock. While it stood, resources couldn't be built up.

It targeted Miles's hand directly—Relinkuriboh and Clear Kuriboh both lost their key powers without the Graveyard.

"With this, your moves should be hindered. And with 2000 Defense, it's a wall your Deck can't cross. I set 1 card and end my turn."

Miles drew.

"My turn! I Summon King's Knight in Attack Position. And with King and Queen together, I Special Summon Jack's Knight from the Deck!"

[King's Knight ATK: 1600]

[Jack's Knight ATK: 1900]

Locke had surely seen this coming with the Eye—hence his talk of 2000 Defense being an impassable wall. Even Jack's Knight couldn't break through.

And Miles had no Fusion for Arcana Knight Joker.

Yesterday, he would've been helpless before Banisher of Light's lock.

But not today.

Hope.

"I overlay Level 4 King's Knight and Queen's Knight! Xyz Summon!"

His first time using Aisha's power to Xyz Summon in battle.

"From this moment, my battle begins! Winged messenger of hope, warrior of light! Rank 4—Xyz Summon! Number 39: Utopia!"

[Number 39: Utopia Rank 4│LIGHT│Warrior│2500 ATK / 2000 DEF]

[Materials: 2 Level 4 monsters]

Bathed in radiance, white wings of light spread behind the warrior—Miles had summoned an Xyz beyond the 2000 Defense.

"An Xyz Summon?!"

Even trapped, Deion Kaiser watched in awe, breathless at this act of rebellion.

Aisha Carlos, student of Fusion Academy, citizen of Livorden… had broken through using the very summoning of the Xyz nation itself, against the Varian Marshal.

"Hope Sword Slash!"

In an instant, Utopia's blade cut through Banisher of Light, scattering it into starlight.

"Number 39… splendid as I expected!"

Even as his monster was destroyed, Marshal Locke praised the Duel.

Bound hand and foot, Luca sighed helplessly.

"Grandpa's bad habit again. Why does he always acknowledge the opponent's style…"

...

If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going!

[Patreon.com/RedZTL]