Chapter 623: Dark Demon’s Lethal Weakness (4k)
“Battle Phase (3)” [30s]
…
Dark calmly drew his cards.
The situation on the field was quite clear.
Heidi’s deck differed slightly from what he had anticipated, although it was above average, there was still a significant gap between her and Sarah.
Those two “Green Feather Snakes” seemed to be her limits.
He ordered “Ditto” to transform into “Green Feather Snake,” which was enough to protect his own Mana Spirit Ball.
In this third round of drawing cards, the outcome would be decided.
[Curse Cage: Imp Beast]
[Battle Horn]
Indeed.
While Heidi was still focused on commanding the two “Green Feather Snakes,” Dark had already summoned [Curse Cage: Imp Beast].
Then, without hesitation, he immediately summoned “Pride III.”
The long-missed “Demon Beast” spread its dark demonic wings within the golden light!
A ferocious roar echoed across the battlefield, filling it with thick dark aura.
“Ji ji ji!”
The “Demon Beast” sneered, its towering body vanishing as it turned around.
When it reappeared, it had instantly teleported directly above the transparent “Green Feather Snake.”
Then, its massive sharp claws burst forth.
Ultimate Skill — “Death Claw”!
The transparent “Green Feather Snake” was instantly pierced by the “Death Claw,” its body struggling before disintegrating!
“Green Feather Snake!”
Heidi clenched her teeth in an instant.
The real “Green Feather Snake” suddenly turned around, opening its mouth to bite the “Demon Beast.”
However, the “Demon Beast” did not dodge but simply raised its left arm to block the attack.
Then, it raised its right arm and struck fiercely!
With that strike, numerous “Death Claws” materialized in front of the “Demon Beast,” tearing away pieces of the “Green Feather Snake.”
That “Green Feather Snake” turned into light amidst its agonizing cries…
All of this happened so quickly that it left everyone astonished.
A mere four-star “Demon Beast” had consecutively eliminated two five-star “Green Feather Snakes” in an extremely short time!
At this moment, the “Ditto” transformed into a “Green Feather Snake” just began to raise its feathers, preparing to release “Multiple Arrow.”
However, this “Multiple Arrow” was somewhat effective against the Blue Side’s Mana Spirit Ball’s Life Barrier.
…
On the Blue Side’s platform.
After both “Green Feather Snakes” were eliminated, Heidi released her tight grip on her teeth.
People tend to only give their all when they can see hope.
Effort without a goal only wears down one’s will.
Having confirmed she could no longer make any difference, Heidi chose to give up.
It wasn’t until the Blue Side’s Mana Spirit Ball was exploded by “Ditto’s” “Multiple Arrow” that this relatively long duel finally ended.
[4000-0]
…
“Beep—”
The referee blew the whistle, announcing the winner.
Applause continued to thunder, and the atmosphere on stage remained unchanged.
After Dark returned all his Mana Spirits, he turned and left the stage without saying a word to Heidi.
They weren’t really familiar with each other.
As the victor, anything he said might be perceived as arrogance.
Considering future opportunities to interact might increase, Dark chose to remain silent.
And after Dark left the stage, Heidi slowly recovered, turned, and also walked off the stage.
They passed through the competitors’ passage one after another, entered the ring, then split into two routes and sat in different spectator areas.
Dark felt somewhat bored.
…
But that’s how Mana Duels work.
Once the skill gap becomes too large, random factors within the rules cannot change the final result.
A predetermined victory naturally dulls excitement.
Even if some duelists immerse themselves in the feeling of overwhelming superiority.
But Dark clearly wasn’t like that.
Since his first year, he had moved beyond the stage of seeking victory.
He had long entered the stage of seeking defeat.
What he needed was the thrill after giving his all, not the merciless crushing of weak opponents.
“There are two more matches.”
“After these two, it’s over.”
Dark patted his cheeks, trying to maintain his state.
“Here, have some candy.”
Diana approached, unexpectedly stuffing a milk candy into his mouth.
Dark chewed a couple of times, and the sweetness filled his heart.
…
Under the blue sky, young boys and girls freely sweat on the dueling stage.
Time flowed past them like water.
By the time people regained their senses, it was already 2 PM.
Dark stepped onto the stage again.
The ninth match of the “Silver Cup”积分赛, his opponent was Steven Kom, a second-year student at Mana Academy, like Heidi Euphemia.
Mana Academy has always produced talented individuals. Although Dark didn’t pay much attention to Steven Kom, he seemed to be the top student after Sarah Swati in the academy.
If Sarah was the top female student, then Steven Kom was the top male student.
However, Steven’s personality didn’t seem very sociable, so he didn’t build a fan base like Sarah Swati.
His failure to become the class president of second-year students was likely due to his personality.
Dark looked up, observing carefully.
Steven had neatly combed brown hair, thin eyebrows, a high nose bridge, thin lips, a square face, and a rather unfriendly expression.
But his glasses added a bit of scholarly air to him.
Dark thought for a moment, confirming he hadn’t spoken much with the other person, and prepared to put his deck into the card slot, ready to start the duel.
However, the usually quiet Steven Kom surprisingly spoke: “Dark Demon, you’re strong.”
Dark frowned, raising his head to look at him again.
Steven Kom adjusted his glasses, saying seriously, “But you should know that if someone is too prominent, they expose themselves to too many eyes. As far as I know, many upperclassmen are studying you. Of course, I’ve been studying you for a long time.”
Dark smiled slightly and raised his hand horizontally, saying, “Not particularly honored.”
Steven Kom continued, “I’m talking to you before the duel starts to remind you. If you underestimate me, you’ll run into trouble.”
Dark was momentarily stunned, curious, “Why do you think you’ll be underestimated?”
Steven Kom: “…”
“Beep—”
The whistle sounded at the right time.
The words “Standby Phase” appeared above the spellboard.
Both players immediately placed their decks into the card slots, activating the automatic shuffling of the spellboard.
Dark didn’t ignore Steven Kom’s words, but what Steven Kom said was already within his expectations.
In Mana Duels, who doesn’t study their opponents?
But being studied isn’t scary; what’s truly terrifying is stagnation!
In other words, as long as there is continuous progress, one will never fear being studied.
…
“Standby Phase” [30s]
…
Let go of distractions, focus on the duel.
Both players drew their cards almost simultaneously, then looked at their hands and pondered their strategies.
Dark spread out his hand.
[Merge]
[Curse Cage: Imp Beast]
[Bliss III Moon]
[Deoxys]
[Garbage Slime]
Starting with a merge.
“Imp Beast” and “Deoxys” were in his hand.
Apart from lacking the conditions for a “Sacrificial Summon” of “Deoxys,” all the prerequisites for a “Merge Summon” were met.
But these five starting cards weren’t ideal.
“Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since I last merged summon ‘Bastemon.'”
Thinking about the feeling of fusing “Imp Beast” and “Deoxys” into a single entity, Dark couldn’t help but smile.
However, “Bastemon” was no longer considered his strongest trump card.
Using too many Mana Spirit Cards for summoning it was relatively inefficient.
Moreover, he hadn’t gathered all the necessary elements this time.
Also, he didn’t have many strategic options with these five Mana Spirit Cards.
After a brief consideration, he picked out [Curse Cage: Imp Beast].
In the first round, to ensure the strength of the Mana Spirits on the field, he could only evolve [Curse Cage: Imp Beast] into [Curse Cage: Black Diarumon].
Without hesitation, he chanted the incantation as soon as the “Standby Phase” switched to “Battle Phase.”
“In the name of Dark Demon, Mana Summon — ‘Curse, Imp Beast!'”
The little imp with bat wings appeared once again in the audience’s view.
“Black Diarumon,” evolved from “Imp Beast” during the morning duel, was likely still imprinted in the audience’s minds.
But this time, its evolution direction was not “Demon Beast”!
…
Just two seconds after Dark completed the summon, Steven Kom also finished his initial summon.
He looked at the little imp beast in the Red Side’s summoning zone and couldn’t help smiling.
“Good! Raiji Beast!”
On the Blue Side’s summoning zone.
The Mana Spirit summoned by Steven Kom — “Raiji Beast” — immediately lifted its head.
The appearance of “Raiji Beast” resembled a standing lizard with an umbrella on its head.
But the tip of the umbrella-like protrusion on its head was a long horn resembling a lightning rod.
[Card Name: Raiji Beast]
[Type: Elemental Card]
[Level: ???]
[Race: Reptile]
[Attribute: Electric]
[Mana: 1500]
[Attack: 1200]
[Defense: 1000]
[Ultimate Skills: Electronic Interference, Lightning Call]
“Raiji Beast, ‘Electronic Interference’!”
Steven Kom shouted loudly while holding the Mana Spirit Card of “Raiji Beast.”
The “Raiji Beast” immediately closed its eyes, gathering mana.
Its horn instantly wrapped itself in crackling electricity.
Following Steven Kom’s command, the electricity instantly exploded, forming a massive current barrier covering the entire field!
Dark was about to begin a new round of summoning when he suddenly sensed something unusual and frowned: “Mana Interference Barrier?”
The “Electronic Interference” released by “Raiji Beast” was clearly not just interference for electronic devices, but also targeted mana or other things.
“So that’s it!”
Almost immediately, Dark understood the key point.
He realized that Steven Kom’s research results… were right here!
Dark’s combat style was extremely unique.
To most people, he often used special reinforcement-type Mana Spirit Cards to upgrade Mana Spirit Cards and “special summon” high-level Mana Spirits, thereby gaining an advantage.
So, how could one counter his combat style at its source?
Steven Kom probably adopted this approach.
He must have many Mana Spirit Cards capable of blocking energy.
This “Raiji Beast” was likely just one of them.
…
But even after understanding the key point, Dark did not stop summoning. He still summoned and activated “Bliss III Moon” in the shortest possible time after the three-second cooldown!
Steven Kom’s strategy indeed made him wary, but the radiance of “Capital Sin” was not easily blocked!
The “Electronic Interference” barrier released by “Raiji Beast” was instantly penetrated by the radiance of “Bliss,” as if it didn’t exist at all!
And the little imp beast in the Red Side’s summoning zone turned into a glowing entity under the golden pink radiance.
Steven Kom on the Blue Side’s platform showed a look of astonishment.
His second Mana Spirit summon was delayed significantly!
The little imp beast had successfully evolved into “Black Diarumon”!
Although “Black Diarumon” was not among the top in four-star Mana Spirits, it wasn’t weak with its two ultimate skills.
Due to the limitations of his hand, Dark did not advance recklessly but commanded “Black Diarumon” to take a defensive stance temporarily.
At this moment, Steven Kom finally forced himself to calm down and began summoning his second Mana Spirit Card.
However, the application of “Electronic Interference” forced him to replace his originally planned “Interference Curse” with a Mana Spirit Card for enhancing combat power.
During this period, the “Raiji Beast” that had been summoned at the beginning launched a second wave of attacks!
“Boom!”
Dark felt a sudden clap of thunder, and a bolt of lightning truly appeared in his vision!
That lightning crossed the distance of the field, shooting directly at the newly evolved “Black Diarumon” from below the “Electronic Interference” barrier.
This speed was so fast that it made Dark wonder why it didn’t use this ultimate skill immediately?
If it hadn’t used “Electronic Interference” first, but directly used “Lightning Call”…
The little imp beast might have already been defeated!
…
Looking at the “Black Diarumon” whose fur stood on end due to the lightning, Dark felt another warning.
Although “Electronic Interference” didn’t produce the expected effect, it was indeed an idea to hinder Dark’s field setup.
And powerful ultimate skills like “Lightning Call,” which dealt long-range, high-speed attacks, were the bane of low-star Mana Spirits like the little imp beast, Ibut, and Ditto!
