Fusion Decks could play almost anything, but wasn't it a build stuffed with so many engines bound to brick?
Could Ritter actually be some kind of specialist?
Morgan eyed him warily. She didn't yet know what he planned to summon with Verte; regardless, she suspected the worst. Likely, he had been using Shaddoll low-levels and the Adventurer engine as mere extenders. His true boss was about to arrive.
She guessed what it might be.
Ritter activated Verte's effect.
"I activate Predaplant Verte Anaconda! Pay 2000 LP, send 1 Fusion Normal/Quick-Play Spell from Deck to GY; this effect becomes that card's effect."
His LP dropped. The card he sent was exactly what Morgan feared—Branded Fusion.
"I send Branded Fusion to the GY. Verte's effect becomes Branded Fusion's."
"I Fusion Summon, using Verte and Fallen of Albaz from Deck!"
"Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon!"
Morgan grimaced. She'd seen this countless times before. Branded decks were everywhere in her past life, and now here too. However, familiarity meant she knew the counterplay.
"Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon activates! Send 1 Fusion that lists Fallen of Albaz to GY, then banish 1 monster on the field."
Morgan chained her Stovie's effect. She had to prep Lovely's arrival. With Stovie gone, Mirrorjade would have only her maid to banish. She'd take the 3000 damage if needed, so long as her traps set up the follow-through.
"I activate Labrynth Stovie Torbie! Send this card and 1 card from hand to GY; Set 1 Labrynth Spell/Trap directly. I Set Labrynth Welcome!"
Mirrorjade's effect resolved. Arianna the Labrynth Servant was banished. With Stovie and Arianna gone, Morgan's field lay bare, only two facedown Traps.
She couldn't flip Torrential Tribute yet—she'd have to tank the hit.
Ritter grinned. Mirrorjade's 3000 ATK meant a direct attack could end it.
"Battle! Mirrorjade attacks directly!"
Morgan's LP dropped to 5000. Ritter smirked, savoring the blow.
From the sidelines, Akiyama shouted furiously: "Morgan, what are you doing, letting that scrub hit you directly?!"
The crowd turned, baffled—who was this bald guy calling Ritter a scrub? Even pros wouldn't say that. Ritter was an idol, but he had skill.
Morgan herself frowned. She didn't know the bald man either.
Still, he kept cursing Ritter, earning glares from the girls. Hannah, watching nearby, rubbed her temples. She had told Akiyama to stay subtle, yet he just couldn't help drawing attention.
"Turn end."
Ritter ended, satisfied with the damage. He ignored Akiyama; others defended him anyway. At his End Phase, White Dragon Albaz's Fusion target triggered, setting Branded in Red from Deck.
Ritter's board: Mirrorjade, Branded in Red, and stolen momentum. Nevertheless, Morgan was calm. With Welcome and Torrential ready, she had answers.
"My turn—draw!"
She drew another Trap—set-up required. Branded in Red had survived the Virus by being set, so she had to time carefully.
"I activate Labrynth Welcome! Special Summon Lovely Labrynth of the Silver Castle!"
Lovely appeared. Morgan immediately followed up.
"When Special Summoned, I trigger Torrential Tribute! Destroy all monsters on the field!"
Ritter paled. He had no out. His monsters drowned. Even his Fusion from Branded in Red would die instantly.
Still, he tried.
"I activate Branded in Red! Target a Despia monster in GY—Special Summon and Fusion! I fuse with your Lovely!"
"Fusion Summon! Masquerade the Blazing Dragon!"
A crimson dragon appeared—then was swallowed in the flood. Torrential cleared everything. Lovely returned to Morgan's GY.
The crowd roared. Akiyama switched from insults to cheers for Morgan.
Morgan triggered both furniture monsters from GY.
"I activate Labrynth Stovie Torbie and Labrynth Chandraglier! Special Summon Stovie, add Chandraglier to hand!"
Ritter's Fusion, Dramaturge of Despia, revived itself, but Morgan's setup still held.
She immediately used Stovie's effect, discarding Chandraglier, to Set Labrynth Labyrinth directly.
"I Set Labrynth Labyrinth!"
The Field Spell activated, though its trigger condition wasn't yet met.
Morgan checked her last Trap: Dimensional Barrier. She declared Fusion. Ritter would be locked out next turn.
"I Set one card and end my turn."
Ritter scowled. She had turned the game around. He still had Branded resources, though losing momentum stung. He drew—Water Enchantress of the Temple. Not ideal.
He checked his GY. Mercifully, he had Metalfoes Fusion.
"I activate Metalfoes Fusion in the GY! Shuffle this card into Deck; draw 1 card!"
...
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