Precisely locked at 100 Life Points.
With the "Last Candle in the Wind" buff active, there was no doubt what Miles needed—the most critical card in Irene's HERO deck.
A card that could unleash a HERO's true form... and create a miracle.
The Spell Card—[Polymerization].
For Elemental HERO decks—the very symbol of Fusion Summoning—as long as they drew [Polymerization], hope remained, even in despair.
A 3000 ATK [Archfiend's Manifestation]—on par with [Blue-Eyes White Dragon]?
Heh. Clearly, Megan had no idea... HERO decks had a monster built to hunt down 3000-ATK threats.
"Tch... You managed to survive. But little cutie... you've already set foot in hell~"
Completely oblivious that Irene's soul had been swapped, Megan continued dueling with her usual sultry flair. Paired with her alluring figure barely concealed beneath the black robe, Miles could only think—
'Lady. Get away from me. NOW.'
"Our turn, then. Time to hit her with something big, Ren."
Fingers—currently Irene's—rested on the Deck. If this draw was [Polymerization]... it would be lethal.
"H-How exactly... do we... hit her with something big?"
For once, even the clever Irene was totally confused about Miles's plan.
"Duh. Draw [Polymerization]. You play HERO—you don't know this?!"
"...Polymerization? Uh... my deck doesn't have that card."
'You're running HERO... WITHOUT POLYMERIZATION?!'
Miles's blood pressure spiked.
He'd thought Aisha's junk deck was the limit of insanity—Nope. Turns out the genius, capable Irene had a decklist with the mental clarity of a brick.
Thinking back... yeah. During the Fusion Academy practicals, Irene never did use [Polymerization].
Every duel she'd won was through beatdown with low-level HEROes plus Spells and Traps.
Thanks to her insane dice luck, it actually worked.
Apparently... this was a Dark HERO deck.
"Wait... is Polymerization really that important for HERO decks?"
Even now, Irene earnestly asked.
"...Do you use chopsticks to eat?"
"Then we've got nothing more to discuss."
"But... [Polymerization] is a B-rank Spell! It's super expensive!"
"Not expensive for HERO decks."
Seriously. Rich-people problems. She had a HERO deck... and was whining about the 100 Magic Point cost for [Polymerization].
If it were Miles? He'd eat fatigue penalties all day to craft two copies minimum.
And it wasn't just Irene. Fusion Academy's freshmen, in general, tended to skip Fusion Spells entirely because of how costly they were. No wonder Fusion Academy had lower combat ratings than the other two academies in the Spirit Continent.
"Well... if Polymerization's that important..." Irene offered, "Let's just beat her. Then take [Polymerization] through the Shadow Game!"
Since he'd only arrived right before the direct attack, Miles hadn't realized—the [Archfiend's Manifestation] on Megan's field... was a Fusion Monster.
"Wait... you mean she used Polymerization?!"
"Of course. How else did that Fusion Monster get here?"
"...Oh. So that's how. You were waiting for me all along."
The moment he got that key intel, Miles glanced at the remaining hand cards—and instantly saw the win condition.
"Alright then. Watch closely, Ren. I'll teach you how to play HERO."
Drawing his card, he slammed it onto the field.
"—Field Spell activate: Skyscraper!"
The signature C-rank Field Spell for HERO decks. Like a Continuous Spell, it stayed active after activation.
Except Field Spells also altered the very environment.
Massive skyscrapers surged skyward. The Spirit Eyes manifested a hyperreal skyline, transforming the Shadow Game's Field inside the barrier into a HERO's nighttime cityscape.
At first, Miles had thought this city's aesthetic felt wildly out of place in a swords-and-magic world. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs ɴovᴇl(ꜰ)ir(e).nᴇt
Then he remembered—Duel Monsters had Cyber Dragons, Mathmechs, literal space mechas... so yeah, it checked out.
Different tech trees. Same high civilization.
"HEROES... always fight on their own stage!"
Surrounded by towering buildings, Megan didn't flinch.
A Barrier Mage getting spooked by a Field Spell? Ridiculous.
"A Field Spell with no monsters? Heh. Just bluffing, huh."
"As for monsters... I'll take this one!—Spell Card activate: The Warrior Returning Alive!"
[Target 1 Warrior monster in your Graveyard; add it to your hand.]
"I return [Elemental HERO Burstinatrix] from the Graveyard to my hand!"
"That won't work, Miles." Irene protested. "Even with [Skyscraper] giving a HERO 1000 extra Attack in battle... [Archfiend's Manifestation] still has 3000 ATK!"
To benefit from [Skyscraper], the HERO had to be below the opponent's Attack—and it only worked in battle.
"And my strongest HERO... [Elemental HERO Poison Rose]... only has 1900. And she needs [Rose Bud] to even Summon."
"A HERO with 2000+ Attack? Oh, we've got one. Watch closely. This... is how HEROES fight!"
"H-How HEROES... fight?"
Even though Miles was using her body... hearing that line made Irene's soul-state self blush. Heart racing. Butterflies everywhere.
"Now... time to complete the final piece of the puzzle! Spell Card activate!"
The card he'd just drawn hit the field. Under the night-lit skyscrapers, a wave of peculiar magical energy surged.
It wasn't aimed at Miles's Graveyard.
"Activate—Double Spell!"
[Select 1 Spell Card in your opponent's Graveyard; activate it as this card's effect.]
Like [Exchange] for hands, but for Spells in the Graveyard.
Miles pointed straight at Megan.
"I'm taking it. The Spell Card in your Graveyard—Polymerization!"
If you want to support, please consider , and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going!