With the power of Hope's Number 39 breaking the lock, Banisher of Light was destroyed, and the Graveyards were freed once more.

Most importantly, Locke's field was now empty.

"You set such a cocky condition—that I'd win the moment you took damage. Well, now I can go straight for your Life Points!"

After Utopia's slash, Jack's Knight remained ready to attack.

Deion Kaiser realized, "So the Marshal can see through hands and set cards, but not Extra Deck monsters? That's why he never anticipated Aisha could Xyz Summon Number 39 at 2500 ATK. Honestly, even I couldn't have imagined it!"

Fusion Academy's ace as an Xyz Monster—borderline parody.

"Direct attack—Jack's Blade Slash!"

The silver blade carved through Locke's frail frame.

"That attack went through! By our wager, that means I win, old man!"

"Yes, it went through. But you've misunderstood me. This is troublesome."

One of Locke's set cards flipped face-up. The wound carved by Jack's Knight vanished without a trace.

"Trap Card activate—Rainbow Life!"

[Discard 1 card; until the end of this turn, any damage you would take becomes Life Point gain instead.]

"What I perceive isn't just your cards, but your very thoughts. Even your plan to Xyz Summon Utopia and break Banisher of Light—I foresaw it all."

Discarding a card, Locke turned damage into healing.

[Locke Slint, LP: 4000 → 5900]

His aged face seemed to shine with newfound vigor as his Life Points rose.

"Thanks to your Rank 4 Xyz, I can finally use the Graveyard again. Otherwise, even I would have been troubled."

"You rely on Graveyard resources yet gambled on me to free them? Old man, what kind of play is that?"

Locke's rhythm was unorthodox, utterly unlike any Duelist Miles had faced.

"My turn ends."

"It wasn't a gamble, young one. I knew you would do exactly that. I knew you'd hand me an Xyz monster."

"…Hand you an Xyz monster?"

"My turn, draw."

He drew, then played Pot of Greed, shattering it after two new cards. Then—Mystical Space Typhoon.

[Target 1 set Spell/Trap; destroy it. The targeted card cannot respond.]

A beam of light shot out, destroying Miles's lone set—Necro Fusion—before it could ever be used.

"That trap was central to your plans. With it, you could fuse your three Knights into Arcana Knight Joker, or fallback to First of the Dragons. Even among the youths I've seen, your foresight is exceptional."

But the Eye had read it all. Before the Knights even reached the Graveyard, Necro Fusion was gone.

Aisha muttered, "Miles…"

She now fully understood Deion's earlier warning. Every move, every strategy stripped bare—it felt less like Dueling and more like prison.

"If your heart falters already, you'll never defeat me."

Locke threw another card—an Equip Spell.

"Premature Burial, activate."

[Pay 800 LP; target 1 monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it in Attack Position and equip this card to it. If this card is destroyed, destroy the monster.]

[Locke Slint, LP: 5900 → 5100]

He revived the very card discarded for Rainbow Life.

"I Special Summon The Suppression Pluto in Attack Position!"

[The Suppression Pluto] Level 8│DARK│Fiend│2600 ATK / 2000 DEF

The planetary fiend emerged, a cosmic terror akin to Luca's Supremacy Sun, but far more ominous in Locke's hand.

"The Suppression Pluto's effect—activate!"

[Once per turn: declare a card name; reveal your opponent's hand. If they have it, choose 1: take control of a monster, or destroy and set one Spell/Trap from their field.]

A skill requiring perfect precision—but trivial with the Millennium Eye.

"I declare—Dark Magician Girl. That card is in your hand."

Indeed, she was.

"Now, The Suppression Pluto seizes your Number 39: Utopia!"

"So that was your goal all along!"

He had baited Miles into summoning Utopia, only to snatch it away.

Legends said Pluto, once the ninth planet, was feared as a gathering of alien gods' dread. And from that abyss, Utopia itself was twisted into darkness, stolen from Miles's side.

"NO! My Utopia—!"

Aisha's heart broke at its betrayal.

But worse was the board state. Utopia's effect could now nullify attacks—working against Miles.

With the Millennium Eye's cheat-like synergy with The Suppression Pluto, Locke could, every turn, strip away a monster or backrow.

"Battle! Planetary Dust Smash!"

The planet itself fell, crushing Jack's Knight.

[Aisha Carlos, LP: 4000 → 3300]

"Now, Utopia's direct attack. Feel the pain of hope's betrayal!"

Its shining blade pierced through, carving away nearly all her Life Points.

[Aisha Carlos, LP: 3300 → 800]

Had this been a Shadow Game, the pain would have been unbearable.

"I set 2 cards and end my turn."

The golden-caned Marshal ended with overwhelming control, unscathed.

"I've studied the Seven Millennium Items. The Puzzle is supreme. With it, you should be far stronger. Yet you seem unready."

"Draw!"

Miles's sudden motion cut through Locke's musings.

"I know—you've seen all my cards and plans. The Millennium Eye is a curse. But can you see this?"

"…What?"

"This card I just drew. Even the Eye can't read the future."

It was clairvoyance versus topdecking.

"The card I drew—roar! Timaeus the United Dragon!"

...

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