The villainous young master just wants to live a Buddhist-like life.

　Just as Dark predicted, this two-star "Fantasy Beast: Fantasy Sheep" has already received a significant boost simply by being upgraded to two stars.

　This fusion material can completely replace Ditto (Blue-Eyes Baby Dragon) or Agumon to fuse with the Blue-Eyes Baby Dragon itself.

　Although it is not so easy to achieve in Magic Duel because it requires the "Fusion" card.

　However, in actual battles, it can be used to bring out Ditto, thus allowing Ditto to play a greater role.

　Therefore, the success of this "secondary refinement" can be considered an unexpected surprise.

　However, after this success, Dark discovered that there was a crucial element missing in the "secondary forging" of these fusion material cards.

　The main reason he was able to successfully upgrade this "Fantasy Beast: Fantasy Sheep" from one star to two stars was the addition of "Fusion Factor".

　He obtained the recipe for this potion from Pandora when he was a first-year student.

　But if we want to go further after that, we will probably need some additional elements.

　If he can't find that element, he'll probably have a hard time upgrading "Fantasy Beast: Fantasy Sheep" to three stars.

　Similarly, the same principle applies to other fusion materials.

　This hurdle is very difficult to overcome.

　He roughly guessed that only those who had successfully achieved "advanced fusion" would be able to make a breakthrough in this area.

　The only fortunate thing is that "Magic Beast: Goddess of the Mind's Eye" only needs two stars to raise the target of "Angel Fusion" to the third tier.

　This will be Dark Knight's trump card for the future!

　……

　However, as things stand, if we can craft "Fantasy Beast: Fusion Spell Creature - Light", "Fantasy Beast: Fusion Spell Creature - Dark", and "Fantasy Beast: Fusion Spell Creature - Dragon", it would be enough to add them to the deck.

　Dac has high hopes for this.

　Then came November 16th, a Saturday.

　He finally got his chance to duel with the fourth-year senior!

　Second-year student, Dark Dimon, from the Noble Academy.

　VS

　Fourth year, Magic Academy, Patricia Pollin

　The news of this duel had already spread when it was confirmed on Wednesday.

　Patricia Bolin is quite famous among the fourth-year magicians—though not entirely for the good reason.

　But she is indeed very famous.

　And Dak Dimon can only become more famous.

　Therefore, a great many students came precisely at the appointed time to watch the duel.

　Most of the junior mages who had free time in the second year also came.

　Even before the two contestants stepped onto the stage, cheers for them had already begun.

　Instead of heading to the stands in the circular area, Dark went straight into the arena.

　His current deck lineup hasn't changed much.

　Besides adding two 3-star "Eevee" and one 2-star "Ditto", several 2-star "Sin" cards were removed.

　But this simple adjustment greatly improved the synergy of the entire deck.

　Patricia Pollin is undoubtedly a formidable opponent. But Dark has considerable confidence in this duel.

　He exchanged a glance with Patricia Pollin, his senior, from below the players' platform, and then quickly walked up the steps to the red team's platform.

　But Patricia Pollin took to the player's table first and immediately activated the game.

　Then she said with a hint of smugness, "How about that? You didn't expect that, did you?"

　Apart from Dark, no one present could guess what her "unexpected" reason was.

　But Dark smiled helplessly: "I really didn't expect that you would be a fourth-year student."

　“That’s where my brilliance lies,” Patricia said with a hint of pride.

　Disguising herself as a sixth grader at the Halloween costume party saved her a lot of trouble; at least she wasn't targeted by anyone from beginning to end.

　It was this outlier, Dak, who actually stole her resource points.

　But it doesn't matter, what's lost will eventually be regained!

　She said deliberately, "I heard you've never lost a single match since your debut?"

　Dark frowned slightly and said, "That does seem to be the case, but I haven't participated in many duels, so it's meaningless to make such statistics."

　Patricia Pollin smiled slightly and said, "I specifically gathered information about you before issuing you a challenge. It's really hard to believe you're just a second-year student. The potential ceiling of your deck might even be higher than mine!"

　Darke frowned, not expecting that this senior, whom he had only met once, would say something so direct.

　Patricia Pollin changed the subject, continuing, "In a real battle where we could prepare in advance, I might not be your match. But you must understand, this is a stage for magical duels. The one who can make good use of the rules is the ultimate victor."

　Her words immediately caused a huge uproar outside the venue.

　Even her supporters probably didn't expect that she would directly admit her shortcomings in this setting.

　Moreover, many people only realized at this point that Dark Dimon's deck ceiling had actually reached a level that even Patricia Pollin admitted was inferior.

　The ensuing discussion erupted like a hurricane, quickly spreading through the audience outside the stadium.

　However, both players on the field remained very calm.

　Dark shook his head and said, "In actual, unexpected encounters, there's no time for you to prepare in advance. The rules of magical duels are certainly different from actual combat, but they mainly increase the difficulty. If you can't overcome this difficulty, then it's your own problem. I do have many shortcomings. However, that's only now!"

　“I look forward to the moment you reach perfection,” Patricia Pollin said with a smile. “I hope that then I will still be worthy to stand opposite you. So, let’s duel!”

　Dark suddenly shouted, "Let's duel!"

　Both players simultaneously activate the table shuffle.

　The words "Preparation Phase" appeared on the magical projection.

　This duel, which began with a challenge but was devoid of any hostility, began as the countdown for the "preparation phase" appeared!

　Everyone, from the audience both inside and outside the venue to the two contestants on stage, instantly focused their attention.

　"Preparation Phase" [30 seconds]

　Both players draw cards simultaneously.

　Darke checked his hand immediately after receiving his first five cards.

　【Fantasy Beast: Eevee】

　【Single Sword Sheath (Weapon Form)】

　Lion Beast

　Greed III

　[Flying Spell]

　"Is Samsung's Ibrahimovic finally going to make his debut?"

　The instant the thirty-second countdown ended, Dark chose to summon "Eevee" without hesitation.

　"In the name of Darkdemon, a magical summoning—'Fantastic Beast: Eevee'!"

　"In the name of Patricia Boling, a magical summoning—'Shadow Serpent'!"

　As the light of summoning shone.

　Magical spirits materialized simultaneously in both summoning zones.

　Samsung's "Eevee: Monster Hunter" is almost identical to the one-star version, except that it is slightly larger in size.

　Most people simply cannot see the difference.

　Patricia Pollin was clearly unaware of this either.

　The instant she summoned the Shadow Serpent, she immediately shouted, "Take root, Shadow Serpent!"

　In an instant, the green snake, as thick as a child's arm, suddenly raised its head.

　As its tail "rooted" into the ground, its body straightened and taut, like a stalk, and rapidly grew longer.

　With a "whoosh," it grew from two meters long to more than ten meters long.

　The shadow cast by the light directly touched the red team's summoning zone.

　Dark's expression changed instantly at that moment.

　Although he had never seen this "Shadow Serpent" before, he keenly sensed its intentions.

　Sure enough, just a moment later.

　Then, countless dark, shadowy vines burst forth from the shadows at Eevee's feet, lunging at Eevee like a swarm of snakes.

　"imitate!"

　In an instant, Dak suddenly shouted.

　Eevee's eyes lit up, and new shadow vines burst forth from the shadow of Shudderwock in an attempt to block it.

　However, the activation of "Hidden Shadow Serpent" is too fast.

　"Eevee: Eevee" was wrapped up like a black dumpling in the blink of an eye!

　……

　"The ultimate move of 'Shadow Serpent'—'Shadow Binding'—can sever all connections between your starting magical spirit and the outside world."

　Patricia Pollin said calmly.

　"Unable to sacrifice, unable to strengthen, your hand is useless. Now, I summon the Spell Card once more—'Ghost Vine Overgrowth'!"

　"Ibrahimovic, use 'Baton Pass'!"

　Dark issued the command immediately before he initiated the second summoning.

　Beast Eevee, bound by the "Shadow of the Vine", immediately showed a look of resentment.

　It knew that Dark must have a "Great Sin" card in his hand, and when it appeared, it was already imagining itself evolving into a six-star magical spirit.

　However, at this moment, it could only respond to Dark's command and unleash its ultimate move—"Baton Pass"!

　There is a limit to the amount of data that can be recorded by "passing the baton".

　However, Dark doesn't actually have many three-star or lower magical spirits.

　In that instant, it transformed back into light, breaking free from the "binding of the vine shadows".

　At the same time, a Magical Card automatically flew out of Dark's deck, and the Magical Spirit that emerged from the card immediately materialized in the red side's summoning zone.

　That's a brand new "Fantasy Beast: Eevee"!

　"In the name of Dark Demon, a magical summoning—'Greed III'!"

　Blue-purple light poured down from the sky.

　The "Fantasy Beast: Eevee" that lacked its own consciousness underwent evolution while bathed in the radiance of "Greed III".

　However, the "Fantastic Beast: Eevee" that possesses its own consciousness returns to the Spellcard deck, if it is reinstated into Dark's hand.

　This maneuver dazzled the audience.

　Patricia Pollin's spell card "Ghost Vine" also took full effect at this moment.

　The "Ghost Vine," formed from Ghost-type energy, continued to entwine around the evolving "Ghost Beast: Eevee" along with "Shadow Bind."

　However, the "Shadow Bind" released by the previous "Eevee" came into play at this moment.

　This bought it valuable time for its evolution.

　The "Gladiator" emitting a pale blue cold light suddenly appeared!

　Dark had not commanded mindless magical spirits for a long time, but he was not unfamiliar with them at this moment.

　He shouted directly, "Freeze Beam!"

　In the blink of an eye, the "Ice Beam" shot from the mouth of "Gladiator" completely cleared away the surrounding "Ghost Vine" and "Vine Shadow".

　Patricia Pollin's eyes showed surprise.