After eting its strict activation conditions, the Trap Card [Krystal Avatar] could unleash an effect comparable to [Magic Cylinder].
Just like now—flipping the situation in an instant and reflecting a devastating 2500 effect damage.
The soul-shock akin to a Shadow Ga sent Dark Aisha rolling across the stone floor several tis before finally stopping. Her Life Points now stand at 1500—Aisha had overtaken her.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
Her lips scraped from the tumble, spitting out blood-streaked saliva, Dark Aisha stood up, cursing furiously.
"Damn it! Crap! Vermin! Filth!"
Yep—cursing incoherently now, her language deteriorating. It was hard to imagine such foul words could erge from soone as pure and kind as Aisha Carlos.
Miles muttered, "Welp, it's clear… her ntal ga is shattered."
Miles had advised her more than once: anger doesn't make you stronger in a Duel. It clouds judgnt and causes mistakes.
So, when you can no longer control your anger in a Duel, it's safe to say your ntality has collapsed.
Using [Baby Tiragon] to support a Level 1 monster for a direct attack, then stacking ATK with [Gift of the Martyr]—it was a clever, unexpected tactic.
But it also seed to be the best that a post-expulsion Aisha Carlos, fighting alone outside Fusion Academy, could manage.
She had grown—but not completely.
Cornered, she struggled, resisted, searched for light.
And when she finally found a shred of strength, she believed she had a chance.
Only for reality to crush her again.
All her efforts had rely pried open a sliver of light in the dark—only to plunge back into that darkness.
Aisha Yuna Carlos had fallen into deep despair.
"Why?! WHY?! I bet everything on this! My entire future—and I still can't win?!"
Aisha said solemnly, "I told you—that's not real growth. Strength gained from despair and vengeance can't sustain a life."
Dark Aisha gritted her teeth, glaring at her counterpart.
It wasn't fair.
They were both Aisha Carlos. So why did this one get to live a life full of joy, while she had to crawl through the mud, mocked by everyone?
"I Set 1 card. Turn end."
Despite the agony, Dark Aisha forced herself upright and slapped a card down.
However, Miles could see it: she was at her limit. A cornered version of Aisha, one that evoked genuine sympathy.
"My turn, draw."
On Aisha's field stood [First of the Dragons], passed on from Miles.
Across the field, [Rose Lover], whose ATK boost from [Gift of the Martyr] had worn off, sat at 800 ATK in Attack Position—practically begging to be destroyed.
"Battle! With the power left to by Miles—First of the Dragons, attack! 'Primal Shockwave'!"
With a 1900 ATK difference, the primal dragon's roar was more than Dark Aisha could handle.
"Trap Card, activate—[Half Unbreak]!"
[Target 1 monster on the field; it cannot be destroyed by battle this turn, and any battle damage you take from battles involving it is halved.]
"I target [Rose Lover]—she won't be destroyed by battle, and I only take half damage!"
Just as Miles expected. Even if she had "grown," Aisha post-expulsion couldn't refine high-tier Spell/Trap Cards with limited resources.
[Gift of the Martyr] and [Half Unbreak] were far weaker than what academy-trained Aisha had access to.
[Aisha Carlos (Dark), LP: 1500 → 550]
Halving the damage barely saved her from being wiped out, but the force still sent Dark Aisha crashing to the ground again.
As Aisha's own inner darkness, seeing her like this even made the real Aisha's heart ache.
"Give it up, other . Even if you survive this turn—you can't win this Duel."
"Shut up!"
Soul shaken and unable to stand, Dark Aisha still scread back defiantly.
"You, who enjoy happy academy life... you don't know despair! If I lose to you, what was the point of my entire miserable life?!"
"A life built on delusion and despair has no aning. Face it—other . I Set 1 card. Turn end."
In Duel and in belief, Aisha had taken the lead.
At this point, Miles had nothing to worry about.
"My turn..."
No matter how she struggled—she couldn't win this Duel.
At that mont, Dark Aisha knew it better than anyone.
'I lost.'
'I lost.'
'I lost.'
'I lost.'
'I lost.'
'My life is aningless.'
'A fake life.'
'Not even real.'
'Worthless.'
"Only when the soul feels despair... does Dystopia the Despondent respond."
Camille's narrowed eyes snapped wide open.
"So it's finally here... the final step of the trial!"
CRACK—!
A deep clang of tal. The sound of chains shattering.
The second seal on [Dystopia the Despondent] broke under the weight of absolute soul-deep despair—The 12-Star Monster Card's full text now revealed—though a third seal still remained, the card was now usable.
The card near the Millennium Key shot out a black arc and flew into Dark Aisha's Deck—like it had finally found its kindred soul of despair.
Miles was baffled, "Wait a second... did that card just go to her Deck?!"
"I think so, Mr. Miles!"
"My turn... my turn..."
Her body trembling, she hadn't even drawn yet. It was as if fate had finally handed her a reversal.
"My turn, draw!"
That single draw radiated more pressure than any monster. Like a broken dam.
Forget drawing with dark auras or white dragon roars—this was on another level—Even beyond the barrier, Kevin could feel the force. "Could it be... a God?"
"—Quick-Play Spell, activate: [Xyz Encore]!"
Dark Aisha activated her Spell, targeting [Baby Tiragon].
"Return 1 Xyz Monster you control to the Extra Deck, then Special Summon its Xyz Materials in Defense Position."
Like [De-Fusion] for Fusions—this was the Xyz version.
"I return [Baby Tiragon] and Special Summon its two materials—[Mokey Mokey] and [Volcanic Rat]—in Defense Position!"
[Mokey Mokey, DEF: 100]
[Volcanic Rat, DEF: 500]
With [Rose Lover] still protected by [Half Unbreak], she now had three Level 1 monsters on the field.
Aisha gulped. "Wait... summoning a God takes 3 Tributes..."
"No. A deeper God of Despair requires four. I Normal Summon Level 1 [Skull Servant]! With four Level 1 monsters on my field, the ti has co!"
Dark Aisha raised the card she had just drawn.
Even before the summon, the ground shook—Fusion Academy trembled above.
"I Tribute all four Level 1 monsters to call forth my despair—Co forth, the Despair Deity!"
"Four Level 1 Tributes—is that how you summon Dystopia?!"
Miles suddenly rembered: when the first seal broke, the card's text did ntion Level 1 monsters.
[Dystopia the Despondent]
⌜Cannot be Normal Summoned. Must be Special Summoned by Tributing 4 face-up Level 1 monsters you control.⌟
A Level 12 monster summoned by Level 1 fodder—a contradiction of extres.
"Born from soul-crushing despair, it spreads darkness to the ends of the earth! Roar! Suffer! Struggle! Descend, the God—Dystopia the Despondent!"
[Dystopia the Despondent] Level 12│DARK│Fiend│5000 ATK / 5000 DEF
"RUN! GET BACK! The barrier won't hold!"
Even before the summon finished, Camille yanked the Millennium Key out of the floor and shouted to the others to flee.
In the next second, the trial barrier collapsed.
So did the entire ruins chamber.
Dystopia's sheer size shattered the ceiling—it erupted onto the surface.
And directly above... was Fusion Academy's student plaza.
The students froze, staring at the massive black God that erged from the ground.
"Hahaha... I did it."
Dark Aisha laughed maniacally.
"Now I can finally take revenge on Fusion Academy! I'll make everyone feel the sa despair I did—with this God!"
"Other —before you use your God on everyone, you still have to beat !"
Though the ceiling was gone, the Duel between the two Aishas continued.
"Fine! I'll use my God's power to erase you first!"
Battle Phase. Dark Aisha pointed forward.
"Attack! Dystopia the Despondent—'Oblivion Verdict'!"
The divine hand unleashed a crushing beam of destruction toward [First of the Dragons].
At the sa ti, Aisha flipped her Set Trap.
"—Trap Card, activate: [Nitwit Outwit]! I discard [Summoned Skull] to lower Dystopia's ATK by 2500!"
[Dystopia the Despondent, ATK: 5000 → 2500]
A demonic thunderstorm deflected the divine light, halving the terrifying 5000 ATK.
[First of the Dragons, ATK: 2700]
"Now my dragon is stronger!"
"Stronger than God? Don't make laugh! [Dystopia the Despondent]'s effect activates!"
[Once per battle during the Damage Step: Banish 1 Level 1 monster from your Graveyard; this card is unaffected by other card effects and cannot be destroyed by battle.]
"I banish [Mokey Mokey]—and Dystopia becos invincible in battle! 'Divine Territory'!"
[Dystopia the Despondent, ATK: 2500 → 5000]
Immunity restored, Dystopia's overwhelming strength obliterated [First of the Dragons].
Though unaware of the Duel underground, all who saw the sky-shattering divine beam believed they had witnessed God's wrath.
[Aisha Carlos, LP: 2400 → 100]
"AAAAAAAHHHHH—!"
The blast hurled Aisha against the fractured ruin walls.
So much for no physical pain… being hit by a God hurt like hell.
…
TL: There's a glaring rule violation here done by Dark Aisha (not like there weren't other ones, duh, ani logic), Dystopia has to activate its effect before declaring its attack since it doesn't have a Quick Effect; so it shouldn't have been able to respond to Aisha's trap and she'd (Dark Aisha) have lost. Anyways… just enjoy the story and imagine it as "canon" Dystopia.
...
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