Let's play cards! In a fantasy world of swords and magic

"Kevin actually took damage first in this duel?" The crowd gasped in unison.

The 1000-point defense difference sent a backlash of magical energy surging toward Kevin Seto, causing his expression to darken instantly.

If he took this damage, it would be utterly humiliating.

Even if he won the duel, the fact that he, the strongest in the grade, had been the first to lose half his life points to the bottom feeder was something Kevin's pride couldn't tolerate.

"I activate the trap card I set last turn—[Invincible Attack]!"

[Invincible Attack - Trap Card Effect: During this battle phase, any battle damage inflicted to me becomes 0.]

"That's a B-rank spell trap card!"

The trap card [Invincible Attack].

It was often confused with [Attack Nullification].

In reality, this trap card, also B-rank, was more flexible than [Attack Nullification] in certain situations.

For example, the effect of reducing battle damage to 0 could successfully help Kevin save face in this moment.

A barrier of invincibility appeared in front of Kevin, neutralizing the backlash of magical energy.

You Ling couldn't help but sigh, "A B-rank rare card, huh? As expected of the top student in the grade. He really doesn't hold back."

For most first-year students, crafting B-rank magic and trap cards, which required 100 spell points, was rarely an option.

But this restriction definitely didn't apply to Kevin, the top student with a 100% win rate in practical tests.

Conservatively estimated, Kevin's deck likely contained at least two or three B-rank spells.

You Ling could only pray that Kevin wouldn't draw any more rare cards in the upcoming turns.

"Not bad, Aisha Yuna Carlos."

Having neutralized the reflected damage with his trap, Kevin's expression grew more serious.

"You think it's over just like that? This card is the real counterattack, Kevin."

Following Kevin's move, You Ling, unwilling to be outdone, flipped over the trap card he had set on the first turn.

"—Trap card activated: [Counter Punch]!"

[Counter Punch - Trap Card Effect: When a defense-position monster on your field is attacked, if its DEF exceeds the attacker's ATK, destroy the attacking monster.]

Unlike Kevin's B-rank rare card, the trap You Ling revealed was only a D-rank.

However, this trap card, when paired with [Witch of the Star Chalice]'s exceptionally high defense, had a unique effect.

According to duel rules, when attacking a defense-position monster, even if the attack power is lower than the defense, the monster isn't destroyed.

Unless, of course, you have a [Counter Punch] to settle the score.

"One punch to defeat the enemy! Knock out [Lizard Soldier]!"

"Hyah!"

The blue-haired witch let out a fierce cry, and her seemingly delicate fist sent the fully armed lizard soldier tumbling head over heels.

[Lizard Soldier] destroyed.

The lizard monster that had been materialized on Kevin's field was utterly shattered by the girl's tiny fist. This counterattack left Kevin somewhat embarrassed.

Most importantly, the bold declaration of victory Kevin had made at the start of his turn was now impossible to achieve.

"[Valkyrie of Divine Power], equipped with [Light of the Spirits], continue the attack!"

The angelic valkyrie, flapping her wings, responded to Kevin's second attack declaration, raising her radiant sword and slashing through the slender, flat-chested figure of the blue-haired witch.

While 2100 defense points were high, [Valkyrie of Divine Power]'s 2200 attack points, boosted by the equip card, were even higher.

[Witch of the Star Chalice] destroyed.

Irena shook her head regretfully. "Is this the best she can do? Well, there's nothing to be done about it."

Even though [Witch of the Star Chalice] had higher defense than most low-star monsters, hoping to use just this one monster to hold off Kevin, the top student in the grade, was clearly unrealistic.

"You managed to survive this turn by sheer luck, Aisha Carlos. But next turn, you definitely won't be so fortunate!"

Putting down his card, Kevin Seto reluctantly ended his turn.

"Oh, so you think it was luck?"

You Ling raised Aisha's white-haired head, taunting without hesitation. Even her ahoge seemed to radiate aggression.

"But in my eyes, this was an inevitable outcome. Your obsession with victory has become the shackles that ensured you couldn't defeat me this turn."

"Aisha, you actually..."

This time, even homeroom teacher Erin was shocked by You Ling's bold statement.

In this duel, the confidence and judgment that far exceeded the norm made it hard to connect this performance with the image of the once-bottom-feeder girl.

"Is this the potential humans can unleash when pushed to their limits?"

Ultimately, Teacher Erin attributed Aisha's abnormal transformation to "unleashed potential."

Aisha: "Because of you, Mr. You Ling, everyone's impression of me has become so strange!"

"My turn, draw."

Ignoring Aisha's complaints in his mind, You Ling began his turn by drawing a card.

"I set one monster in face-down defense position and set one card in my magic and trap zone. Turn end."

It has the same strategy as the previous two turns. For Aisha's deck, defense was the only viable tactic.

However, the second magic/trap card Aisha set sparked another wave of attention from the onlookers.

"Where did Little Ai get the spell points to craft a second card?" Ilin wondered aloud.

"I see, she must have borrowed spell points," Erin quickly deduced.

As the homeroom teacher, no one understood better than Erin how precious and pitiful Aisha's 10 credits, accumulated over a semester, were.

So while it was plausible for her to have crafted the first D-rank trap card [Counter Punch], the second spell card was definitely unusual.

"That child actually had the courage to borrow spell points... In just one day, she's completely overturned her past weak image," Teacher Erin couldn't help but marvel.

After You Ling ended his third turn in rapid succession, Kevin gradually grew accustomed to this "Aisha's" fighting style.

"This time, I won't give you any chance to escape. My turn, draw!"

After glancing at the card he drew this turn, Kevin immediately flung it onto the field, activating its effect.

"Watch closely. This is the fundamental gap between you and me. A-rank spell card—[Pot of Greed]—activate!"

[Pot of Greed], a forbidden-level spell that required 400 spell points to craft.

Its effect was simple and brutal: draw two additional cards from the deck. A card that created something out of nothing, an overpowered one-for-two exchange.

Pressing his fingers against the deck in his Spirit Eye, Kevin drew two cards.

The moment Kevin Seto drew those cards, the overwhelming dragon's aura from the yet-to-be-summoned card surged out like a flood breaking through a dam.

There was no need to guess. Everyone could feel it.

Kevin Seto had finally drawn the legendary [Red-Eyes Black Dragon].

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