A beast, with long brown fur like a lion but also possessing the characteristics of a wolf, stepped on branches and entered the battlefield.
Andral’s expression became grim as he looked at the giant beast.
Yide wasn’t going to show him any respect.
With a wave of his hand, “【Forest Stomper Beast】, deal five damage to 【Demon Berserker】!”
“Shake the Earth!”
Its thick, powerful front claws stomped the ground, causing cracks to appear.
The cracks continuously extended, reaching the feet of the 【Demon Berserker】.
The next moment, ground spikes shot up, directly piercing the demon’s body, which was adorned with a ram’s skull.
【Demon Berserker】, destroyed!
“Battle Phase, 【Forest Stomper Beast】, ignore that 【Shadow Beast】 now, direct attack!”
Yide waved his hand again.
The giant beast roared, ran to Andral’s front, raised its front claw, and stomped down hard.
Boom!
Andral HP: 10→5
The life barrier glowed, blocking the attack.
But the impact felt as if it would even collapse the ground.
Taking another five points of damage, Andral felt as if his body was being shattered by the impact.
Yet, he withstood the pressure.
“It’s not… over yet!”
He gritted his teeth and instead took a step forward.
Because after the attack, Yide had nothing left to do, so the initiative of the turn automatically rotated to him.
“I won’t fall here.”
“I’ve plundered the strength of so many people with dark duels, how could I possibly be defeated by a little girl like you!”
“My turn, draw card!”
Looking at the only card he drew this turn, Andral couldn’t help but show wild joy.
“Hahahaha, well done! This is the one I wanted!”
He spread his palm.
“At the start of the turn, 【Shadow Beast】’s effect deals two damage to you!”
“Then, directly enter the attack phase, 【Shadow Beast】 deals another two damage to you!”
Shadow breath and energy strikes followed one after another, hitting Tivia’s life barrier.
The already fragile barrier was now even more precarious.
Tivia HP: 8→6→4
Yide, controlling Tivia’s body, swayed under the continuous attacks, retreating several steps.
Seeing this, Tivia looked worried. “Yide, are you alright?”
“Or perhaps it’s better if I just take these damages myself…”
“No need, you just rest well on the side.”
Yide steadied himself again and shook his head at Tivia, who was beside him.
Hearing Yide’s refusal, Tivia couldn’t help but bite her lower lip.
Before, she had always envied Yide for being able to protect Sonia in this way.
But it wasn’t until this protection fell upon her that she understood what Yide had endured to help the undeveloped Sonia deal with powerful enemies.
In an instant, the same feeling of powerlessness as Sonia arose in her heart.
And what made her even more despairing was the card Andral played.
“End of Battle Phase, enter Main Phase Two.”
Andral showed a twisted expression, his mouth stretched into an exaggerated grin, and his two eyes, one large and one small, stared at Tivia (Yide).
“Heheheheheh, it seems you’re the one who’s going to be swallowed by the dark duel, Tivia Silo.”
“I summon 【Life-Devouring Shadow】.”
【Life-Devouring Shadow ★★★★★ (Five Stars) C-rank】
【Dark】
【Specter 5/4】
A pitch-black shadow rose from the leylines, forming a shape.
“【Life-Devouring Shadow】 has the 【Taunt】 keyword. While it’s on the field, you cannot attack me or my other followers.”
“Furthermore, 【Life-Devouring Shadow】 has a second effect!”
Andral’s eyes widened even more, as if they would take up half his face.
“When it enters the field, one of your followers gets -X/-X until the end of the turn, where X is the last digit of my life points!”
“My life points are only five right now, so your 【Forest Stomper Beast】 gets -5/-5!”
Tivia’s heart suddenly jolted.
But before she could say anything, Andral’s outstretched hand clenched tightly.
“Devour it, 【Life-Devouring Shadow】!”
Black tentacles extended from the shadow, directly latching onto the 【Forest Stomper Beast】.
The giant beast immediately became too weak to even stand, watching helplessly as it was dragged into the shadows by the tentacles.
Not long after, the duel’s prompt message appeared before Yide and Tivia.
【Forest Stomper Beast】, destroyed.
“Hahahahaha!”
Andral burst into laughter.
“Thank you for keeping my life points exactly at five!”
“If you hadn’t attacked me in that last turn, with ten life points, I wouldn’t have been able to get rid of your Forest Stomper Beast so easily.”
“In the end, I’m still the more skilled one!”
Are we still going to lose…?
Listening to Andral’s loud laughter, Tivia couldn’t help but clench her fists.
She had thought her follower would shine.
But in the end, it was still exploited and removed.
She had dragged Yide down…
“Yide, go back to Sonia’s side.”
Tivia looked at the soul currently controlling her body.
“The dark duel might drag you down too; we can’t both fall here.”
“After Andral deals with me, he’ll definitely go after Sonia. Sonia still needs your protection.”
“So, leave…”
After saying these words, Tivia seemed to lose all her strength.
After all, she was just a seventeen-year-old girl.
She was also afraid of death.
But she couldn’t drag Yide down to bear the consequences of the dark duel with her.
Let it be…
“Leave?”
Yide’s voice suddenly rang out.
“I don’t have a habit of fleeing in battle.”
“Sonia needs protection, but right now, there’s clearly someone who needs protection even more.”
Tivia: !
Even though she was just a soul now, the girl could clearly feel her heart pounding faster.
What… what is this feeling?
“Besides, it’s not time to talk about losing yet.”
Yide’s lips curled into a smile.
“On the contrary, after he played Life-Devouring Shadow, I was completely certain.”
“We’re the ones who will win!”
Andral felt that enough time had passed and was about to speak. “End of turn…”
But before he could finish, the red-haired girl opposite him extended her hand.
“Now! Before your turn ends, I activate the effect of Mythical Beast King Chimera from my graveyard!”
Andral was startled.
Acting on my turn?
Not playing a card, but activating an effect?!
“Mythical Beast King Chimera’s effect: During the opponent’s turn, banish this card from the graveyard to special summon a Beast follower from the graveyard with a star level not exceeding our maximum magic capacity!”
Yide raised his hand, looking imposing, then suddenly swung it down.
“Return once more, Forest Stomper Beast!”
“Roar!!”
The Forest Stomper Beast, which had just been removed by Life-Devouring Shadow, reappeared, roaring in the darkness.
“Forest Stomper Beast’s effect upon entering the field: deal five damage to your Life-Devouring Shadow!”
“Initiate your revenge, Forest Stomper Beast!”
Yide pointed his hand.
The next second, a claw swipe cut across, and the Life-Devouring Shadow, which had just appeared, was miserably removed from the field.
Andral was completely stunned.
“How is this possible… how could this be…”
He stared blankly at the Forest Stomper Beast that had reappeared on the field.
“Now, it’s truly over! My turn, draw card!”
Yide drew his hand.
No need to look anymore.
Because the darkness had been crossed!
“Bring a bright future to your master, Forest Stomper Beast!”
“War Stomp!”
The unhindered giant beast charged forward, reaching the black-robed man, leaning back and raising its front claws to their limit.
Then, it stomped down with one foot.
Bang!
“Aaaaaaaaaah!!”
Andral HP: 5→0
Andral Defeated