Spell Card [Metamorphosis], one of the most infamous banned cards from the early Yu-Gi-Oh! Meta allows a Fusion Monster to be Summoned by means other than Polymerization.
Although Miles had never personally experienced how absurd this card could be, the effect description alone, simple and brutally direct, practically screamed "broken" right on its face.
So it was no surprise that on the Spirit Continent, this card was also classified at the highest rarity level: A-rank, falling under the category of Special and Forbidden Cards.
"A tradable A-rank card?"
Aisha was utterly stunned.
An A-rank card might not be too rare in itself, still within the realm of attainability.
But a tradable A-rank card? That was an entirely different concept.
Calling it priceless didn't even begin to cover it.
It was no exaggeration to say that owning such a card would guarantee lifelong wealth.
"The Magic Club is actually this loaded? They even managed to get an A-rank? No, this isn't something you can get just by being rich."
Without some very special channels, no amount of money could get you access to a tradable A-rank card.
"Of course, this isn't a card we acquired ourselves. It was just loaned to us for research purposes."
"Someone actually lent out a tradable A-rank card?"
That person was definitely no ordinary character.
Shira's smile carried a trace of mystery.
"I think you'll meet him today. For this final experiment, the card's owner will also be present to witness it."
Speak of the devil—as soon as Shira finished speaking, a hearty laugh echoed from the entrance of the club room.
"Hahahahahahaha! Waiting on me, Miss Shira? I'm honored!"
A towering man, nearly 190 centimeters tall, walked into the Magic Club. With his broad frame and commanding presence, every step he took exuded sheer vitality.
Shira greeted him respectfully. "No, it is our honor to have you visit the Magic Club, Mr. Deion Kaiser."
"Kaiser?!"
Aisha and Irene both gasped in shock at the man's surname.
Miles was surprised by their shock, "What? Is there something weird about 'Kaiser'?"
As far as Miles remembered, there was a well-known character named Kaiser in the second Yu-Gi-Oh! anime series. Or was it a nickname?
Aisha explained, "Kaiser is a royal surname, Miles."
A rank above nobility, the royal family held the entire nation's authority in their hands.
No wonder even someone like Shira, a noblewoman, treated the man before them with such reverence.
"Hahahaha, don't be so formal. I'm just here to witness the birth of a new piece of history. The Magic Club's half-year research project—if I recall correctly, today is the day of truth."
Despite being royalty, Deion Kaiser didn't carry himself with any sort of aristocratic arrogance. On the contrary, he came across as relaxed and approachable.
At the same time, his royal status made it very clear why Deion Kaiser could so casually lend out a tradable A-rank card.
No one could obtain high-grade, rare tradable cards more easily than royalty.
To some minor nobles, even their entire fortunes might not be worth a single rare card in the eyes of the royal family.
Royal Duelists were, without exception, the very definition of "pay-to-win."
"Alright then, let's begin the final potion synthesis trial."
Shira looked to Irene, who was acting as an outside collaborator.
Irene turned her gaze to Aisha.
Aisha finally looked down at the Millennium Puzzle hanging on her chest.
Miles, on the other hand, glanced toward Dark Aisha, who had been utterly absorbed in a manga since the night before.
Miles was very curious—with Dark Aisha existing in the Soul Room, what would happen if the host were switched?
"Alright, I got it."
Though clearly reluctant, Aisha was fulfilling a promise she made to her friend.
She removed the Millennium Puzzle from her fair neck and gently placed it around Irene.
This time, since there was no Shadow Game involved, Irene's mental state was far more stable than during her first time, so her soul didn't enter a completely open state for Miles to take over directly.
Still, the soul switch and connection with the new host were things Miles could feel immediately.
And so the first thing he did was turn toward Dark Aisha.
No change at all. She remained in the Soul Room, completely engrossed in her manga.
Just as Miles had suspected.
Dark Aisha manifesting in the Soul Room wasn't a result of being bound to Aisha's soul per se. Rather, it seemed that the Millennium Key had granted her the ability to appear independently and bind herself to the Millennium Puzzle instead.
It looked like the outcome of that trial wasn't as simple as it had seemed.
Rovik had mentioned it too: the nature of a multi-layered seal was that once the first layer broke, clues for the next layer would appear.
Yet after breaking the second seal, there hadn't been any obvious guiding clue like the previous beam of light.
The only new development that might count as a clue was Dark Aisha's independent manifestation.
Perhaps this manifestation itself was tied to unlocking the third seal on the Despair God card.
But that wasn't the focus right now.
Helping Irene complete the card imprinting for the Transformation Potion was the top priority.
"What do I need to do, Ren?" Miles asked via thought communication.
That voice she'd longed to hear once again echoed in her mind, and Irene's cheeks flushed uncontrollably.
"Ahem. The early steps will be handled by me and the Magic Club members. Miles, you just need to inject your concentrated spirit energy into the combined magic array at the very end."
The final trial commenced.
Drawing the magic circle, calibrating the reagent quantities, arranging the magic tools—after six months of preparation, the members of the Magic Club, under Shira's guidance, had mastered all of this.
However, the most crucial part was also the one that had failed every time before:
Fusing all the prepared materials and reagents into the magic circuit.
This required highly concentrated spiritual energy.
Too much would overflow. Too little would be insufficient.
"We're counting on you, Miles!"
—Soul Exchange.
This second host switch was far smoother than the first, now that the body was no longer burdened by the injuries from the Shadow Game.
Which allowed Miles to clearly confirm: Irene was definitely more well-developed than Aisha.
No, no, now was not the time to let his thoughts wander.
No women in your heart, and your blade shall be pure!
"As expected of Miles, such terrifying spirit energy!"
Within the Millennium Puzzle's Soul Room, Irene felt the magic circuit more energized than it had ever been.
"You really are the most dependable one, Miles!"
"Ohhh! It's working, it's working this time, Irene!"
Even Shira could immediately sense the difference between this attempt and the ones before.
Under the precise guidance of powerful spiritual energy, the previously multicolored, chaotic reagents fused perfectly.
And formed a single drop of radiant golden liquid—forbidden, resplendent—which landed on the card [Metamorphosis].
...
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