"In this way, wouldn't it be reckless…?" Camula gritted her teeth, her expression tight with dread.
"No! This duel is over!" You Feng declared, voice like steel.
Camula's eyes widened in disbelief.
[Vampire Grace] was engulfed in searing blue flames, her shriek echoing across the field before her form crumbled into ashes.
"I summon—[The Monarch Aether]!"
"When the sovereign descends, all opposition withers! Burn these pests and offer them as tribute—convert them into unshakable power!"
With a swift rise of his arm, You Feng's eyes gleamed, his voice carrying commanding weight.
A blinding light surged behind him, like a divine radiance dawning.
"Woah!!"
In that moment, You Feng appeared like a true monarch, his figure upright and imposing, exuding supreme confidence and strength.
Bathed in sacred light, a tall, majestic figure emerged—shining silver armor encased his body, a crescent ring floated behind him, and his flowing cape trailed like starlight. He held his massive scepter like a celestial arbiter of destruction.
[The Monarch Aether]
LIGHT | Level 8 | Fairy-Type
ATK: 2800 / DEF: 1000
"Hmph! Think you can take me down in one turn?"
"You're dreaming!"
"Reveal face-down card—[Call of the Haunted]!" Camula shouted.
"Choose a monster in my Graveyard and Special Summon it in Attack Position. If this card leaves the field, the monster is destroyed. If the monster's destroyed, this card is destroyed too!"
"The one I'll revive is—[Vampire Grace]! Hahaha! If you thought you could defeat me this easily, you're mistaken!"
Camula smirked, her confidence restored, licking her lips as her tone turned sultry and confident.
"That's your counterplay?"
"I'll do more than that."
You Feng's lips curved into a subtle, knowing smile.
"Nani?!" Camula's confidence cracked.
"I activate [Aether the Heavenly Monarch]'s effect!" You Feng declared, voice firm.
"When Aether is Tribute Summoned, I can send two 'Monarch' Spell/Trap cards from my hand or Deck to the Graveyard, and Special Summon one monster with 2400 or more ATK and 1000 DEF from my Deck!"
[Reminder: In this world, only up to GX exists—no ZEXAL/Yuma—please be aware. Thank you for the support! Vote with flower tickets, every vote helps!]
You Feng sent two [Monarch Spell/Trap] cards to the Graveyard directly from the Deck.
"The monster I'll Special Summon is—another [The Monarch Aether]!"
With another command, the divine light returned. A second heavenly figure, identical in its regal radiance, descended to the field.
Now there stood two Aethers—two sovereigns illuminating the field!
Darkness was driven away as their presence asserted itself.
From one Monarch to another, a seamless chain of summoning—this is the power of the imperial engine!
"The Emperor breeds Emperors. Strategies evolve endlessly!"
Camula's face twisted in panic. "No! This can't be happening!"
"As expected of You Feng! He doesn't hold back even slightly!" someone in the audience exclaimed.
"With this Monarch deck, OTK is just a heartbeat away!"
Tenshin Asuka's eyes widened. She could sense the overwhelming pressure from You Feng's field.
"This Monarch strategy… it's incredible," Ryo Marufuji said thoughtfully.
"Ryo, you're interested in dueling him?" Asuka turned with a curious look.
"Yeah… Haven't felt this spark in a long time."
"Perfect timing—with graduation exams coming up, I'll challenge him myself," Ryo affirmed, his determination set.
"It's going to be one thrilling duel!" Asuka said, smiling.
With You Feng firmly in control, the atmosphere around the crowd relaxed, the earlier tension fading into awe.
——
Meanwhile, in the Heavenly Arena, Atum's duel with Fubuki was reaching a fever pitch.
"What?! He actually used [Red-Eyes B. Dragon]?!"
Sho Marufuji blinked, speechless as the familiar beast roared onto the field.
"It's not over yet!"
"I Special Summon—[Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon] from my hand!"
"This monster can't be Normal Summoned or Set—it must be Special Summoned by Tributing one 'Red-Eyes B. Dragon' on the field. It gains 300 ATK for each Dragon in the Graveyard."
"I Tribute [Red-Eyes B. Dragon]!"
"Come forth—[Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon]!"
Fubuki's voice rang out. A terrifying shadowy dragon emerged, coiling in the air with sinister majesty.
[Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon]
DARK | Level 9 | Dragon-Type
ATK: 2400 / DEF: 2000
"With two Dragons in my Graveyard, that's an extra 600 ATK—putting it at 3000!"
"Try and stop this!"
"[Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon], attack [Magician's Valkyria]!"
Fubuki commanded, snow flurrying in his wake.
"Not so fast!"
"I activate [Magical Dimension]!" Atum shouted, flipping his set card.
"This Quick-Play Spell activates when I control a Spellcaster—I Tribute a Spellcaster, Special Summon another from my hand, then destroy one monster on the field!"
"I Tribute [Magician's Valkyria]!"
"And Special Summon—my ace, [Dark Magician]!"
Atum flicked the card onto the Duel Disk. With a whirl of dark energy, a cloaked sorcerer appeared, staff at the ready.
[Dark Magician]
DARK | Level 7 | Spellcaster-Type
ATK: 2500 / DEF: 2100
"Now, I destroy your [Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon]!"
"Nani?!"
The darkness that had just gathered shattered under [Dark Magician]'s might. With one blast, the [Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon] was vanquished.
"Boom—!"
The impact rang across the field.
"My turn!"
"It's over!"
Atum noticed his opponent had no cards left. With only 2500 LP remaining, victory was just one strike away.
"You Feng, I'm finishing—huh?"
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of something shocking.
Two gleaming, silver-armored monarchs hovered overhead—both adorned with their crescent halos and wielding mighty scepters.
Together, they struck.
One Aether swung down—[Vampire Grace] exploded under its might!
"Boom!"
-800 LP!
Camula reeled from the attack, her eyes wide.
The second Aether advanced without pause, landing a crushing blow.
"Humph—"
[The Monarch Aether] let out a cold breath as its strike hit home.
"Boom—!"
"Ahhhhh!!"
Camula's remaining 2800 LP vaporized in an instant.
Her field emptied. Her life points: zero.
"Showtime!"