The suffocating silence within the barrier deepened the instant Shadow Ghoul uttered a single sentence.
"Let's duel."
The declaration reverberated through the enclosed alley like a solemn decree. The transparent walls surrounding them shimmered faintly, ripples of crimson and violet light coursing across their surface before settling once more into an eerie stillness.
At the same time, two translucent Duel Fields materialised between the combatants, their polished surfaces glowing with an ethereal radiance. Beside each field, four thousand points of light gathered together, forming glowing numerals that floated silently in the darkness.
[Alexander - 4000 LP]
[Shadow Ghoul - 4000 LP]
For a brief moment, neither duelist moved.
Outside the barrier, Roland could only stare through the shimmering wall, every muscle in his body tense, and despite the fact that he wasn't aware of what exactly was going on, he was sure that it wasn't anything good, but at the moment, the only thing he could do was stare in silence.
Inside the barrier, only the duel mattered.
Without another word, Shadow Ghoul reached toward the spectral Deck hovering before it. The cards weren't truly physical. They floated weightlessly in the air, wrapped in wisps of black spiritual energy as it announced, "I take the first turn."
One card drifted from its hand before settling onto the Duel Field in front of it while it said, "I activate Pot of Greed. This card allows me to draw two more cards."
The Spell Card burst apart into hundreds of emerald motes that spiralled upward like glowing embers before taking the form of the famous Pot of Greed that spat two cards from its mouth that ended up in Shadow Ghoul's hand before it dissolved into the air.
Watching that scene, Alexander's eyes narrowed while he thought, 'So it is like in the Spirit World, within the barrier every monster and card effect becomes more... real... and much more dangerous. But this feels... Much worse than all the duels I've ever experienced in the Spirit World. It feels much more deadly. Maybe it is because this time I don't have the protection of the YGO System like when I negotiate with Duel Spirits. In that case, even if I fail and the Duel Spirits do harm me, the YGO System always pull me back in time, giving me a minimal backlash. But this time, it is a true Shadow Game with no safety net.'
While Alexander thought that, Shadow Ghoul's movements remained slow and deliberate as it placed another card face-down.
The card disappeared beneath a layer of condensed darkness, its identity hidden even from Alexander's sharp gaze. The spiritual pressure surrounding it thickened, making the concealed monster feel less like cardboard and more like an unseen predator crouching beneath the earth.
The Duel Spirit folded and clicked its talons against one another and announced, "I end my turn."
Alexander inhaled quietly before drawing, and the card slid effortlessly into his hand.
For the briefest instant, everything felt familiar.
The weight, the texture, even the scent of old cardstock, it was exactly like every Duel Monsters card he had ever held. Only the crushing pressure hanging over the battlefield and the unnatural chill creeping through the air reminded him this wasn't a regular duel but a contest where defeat carried consequences far beyond losing Life Points.
His eyes quickly scanned the cards in his hand and thought, 'This is a decent opening hand. Not perfect but more than enough to do something with it.'
Without hesitation, he revealed a Spell Card and said, "I activate Fusion Sage. This card allows me to add a Polymerization from the Deck to my hand."
Blue magical symbols unfolded beneath the card as it dissolved into brilliant streams of azure light. The magic swept across his Deck before a single card rose into the air, surrounded by a faint golden aura, Polymerization.
The card floated gently into his waiting hand, then Alexander didn't waste another second and continued, "Now, I activate Polymerization."
The iconic Spell erupted into a swirling vortex of blue and purple energy, and at the same time, two cards left his hand simultaneously.
"I fuse Guardian of the Labyrinth and Goddess with the Third Eye from my hand to Fusion Summon..."
The armoured guardian appeared first, and the elegant spellcaster emerged beside him before they both dissolved into countless particles of light that spiralled upward, circling one another before plunging into the magical vortex.
The whirlwind intensified, and the barrier itself trembled.
The air vibrated with ancient magical energy as the fusion reached its climax and a brilliant flash swallowed the battlefield.
Then a lone figure stepped from the fading light.
A knight clad in gleaming green armour emerged from the fading radiance, a deep purple cape flowing behind him. A horned helmet concealed his face, leaving only a pair of piercing blue eyes visible beneath its visor, while in one gauntleted hand he carried a spear that shimmered with pale magical light. He stood with the unwavering poise of a veteran warrior, his very presence exuding disciplined strength.
"...Giltia the D. Knight!"
The armoured knight landed gracefully before Alexander, his boots striking the Duel Field with a metallic clang.
[Giltia the D. Knight - ATK 1850 / 1500 DEF]
For the first time since the duel began, Shadow Ghoul's many crimson eyes lingered on Alexander's monster a little longer.
The Duel Spirit said nothing, but it watched.
At the same time, the trusted butler outside the barrier watched the whole scene, and for the first time in many years, his firm composure cracked as he gaped and said, "That's Master Alexander's cards... They are real... Is this the work of a Mutant? Some kind of magic? What is going on here?"
Roland instinctively stepped toward the barrier before stopping the instant his gloved hand came within inches of its shimmering surface. Every instinct screamed at him to pull Alexander away from whatever nightmare this was, yet the invisible wall offered no opening, making him mutter, "Master Alexander..."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
Decades of experience had prepared him for assassins, terrorists, mercenaries, Mutants and every manner of human cruelty, but nothing had prepared him for a knight stepping out of a trading card.
Alexander ignored his guardian and focused on the current duel as he announced, "I start the Battle Phase."
He extended his arm and ordered, "Giltia. Attack the set monster!"
The knight responded instantly.
With a powerful push, Giltia surged across the battlefield, green armour flashing as his cape streamed behind him. He raised his spear high before charging toward his target with one fluid motion.
The face-down monster flipped, revealing the figure of Mystic Tomato.
[Mystic Tomato - 1400 ATK / 1100 DEF]
The bizarre vegetable creature barely had time to squeal before Giltia's spear pierced cleanly through its body, making the monster explode into fragments of dark energy.
Alexander remained focused.
Then the scattered darkness refused to disappear; instead, it gathered together once again, swirling across Shadow Ghoul's side of the field before condensing into another familiar shape.
Another Mystic Tomato emerged from the shadows, settling into an aggressive posture as though it had been waiting there all along.
Shadow Ghoul chuckled softly as it asked, "You remember the effect of that monster... don't you?"
Alexander's expression didn't change, and he said, "I do. When Mystic Tomato is destroyed by battle, it can Special Summon a Dark monster with 1500 or less ATK from your deck."
His attack had accomplished exactly what Shadow Ghoul intended; even so, there was no frustration on Alexander's face. His memories contain many, much more frustrating and devious stalling tactics to the point that this one feels trivial.
Instead of committing further resources, he calmly slid two cards from his hand and said, "I set two cards."
Both cards settled face-down behind his monsters as he announced, "I end my turn."
Shadow Ghoul drew without ceremony.
For several long seconds, it simply stared at the newest card in its hand; its crimson eyes flickered faintly, then another monster appeared beside Mystic Tomato as it announced, "I summon Sangan in attack position."
The small fiend blinked all three of its glowing eyes before letting out a strange, almost playful laugh. Despite its unsettling appearance, it made no move to attack as Shadow Ghoul simply didn't order it to.
[Sangan - 1000 ATK / 600 DEF]
Alexander immediately noticed what was happening, 'Again. No aggression or backrow protection. It is just inviting me to attack Sangan. On top of that, it's buying time.'
That realisation settled quietly in his mind, 'Shadow Ghoul isn't trying to win quickly. It is preparing his board for something it isn't ready to reveal yet.'
Then the wayward Duel Spirit changed Mystic Tomato to defence position and ended its turn.
Alexander drew, and without hesitation, he revealed the monster he just drew while announcing, "I Normal Summon Axe Raider in attack position."
The ground shook slightly as a towering barbarian materialised beside Giltia.
Bare-chested and immensely muscular, the warrior hefted an enormous double-bladed axe over one shoulder before releasing a booming roar that echoed throughout the enclosed battlefield.
[Axe Raider - ATK 1700 / 1150 DEF]
The pressure inside the barrier seemed to intensify as two powerful warriors now stood before Alexander.
He pointed toward Shadow Ghoul's field and said, "Giltia attack Sangan!"
The knight lowered his stance before charging, and the tiny fiend didn't even attempt to flee as if embracing its upcoming death.
Giltia's spear pierced directly through its body, and for a heartbeat nothing happened, then Sangan smiled as the shockwave of Giltia's attack passed over Shadow Ghoul, making it grunt slightly as its Life Points dipped.
[Shadow Ghoul - 3150 LP]
Its unsettling grin widened as its body dissolved into countless glowing particles that drifted toward Shadow Ghoul instead of disappearing, "Upon leaving the field, Sangan activates its effect, and I add one monster with 1500 or less ATK from the Deck to my hand."
Alexander frowned almost imperceptibly, 'Search effects... a staple that never gets old.'
Every monster Shadow Ghoul added to its hand represented another possible piece of whatever strategy it was assembling; still, he couldn't afford to stop attacking simply because Sangan rewarded destruction.
Momentum still mattered, so he ordered, "Axe Raider attack Mystic Tomato."
The barbarian answered with a thunderous roar.
Charging across the field, he swung his enormous axe in a devastating horizontal arc, making Mystic Tomato burst apart once more.
Dark mist erupted from the shattered monster before swirling together into another identical Mystic Tomato.
Alexander watched it appear without surprise as the endless chain of replacements was very common and expected.
Shadow Ghoul simply observed everything in silence, completely unconcerned that its monsters kept falling.
Alexander lowered his arm and announced, "I end my turn."
Shadow Ghoul drew and, without warning, another Spell Card floated onto its field as it said, "I activate Pot of Greed."
The familiar grinning pot made its appearance once more, and as a result, two more cards appeared in its already growing hand.
Alexander watched carefully, then something changed as Shadow Ghoul's distorted smile slowly widened. It wasn't the hateful grin it had worn since the duel began; this one carried confidence and malice as though it had finally drawn exactly what it wanted.
After that, one card settled face-down next to Mystic Tomato, then another in the back row.
The darkness surrounding its side of the field thickened with hidden threats.
Finally, it revealed a third Spell as it declared, "Now, I activate the Spell card Card Destruction."
Alexander's eyes widened slightly as he looked at his hand and thought, 'Oh shit...'
The Spell ignited with violent crimson light, and before he could react, every card remaining in both duelists' hands dissolved into streams of glowing energy.
His own cards slipped from his fingers as though they had become intangible, flowing directly toward his Graveyard.
Shadow Ghoul's hand vanished the same way.
The barrier answered immediately as new cards flew out of their decks before each player.
Shadow Ghoul drew three while Alexander drew two.
He studied his new hand quickly while thinking, 'Interesting. On the surface, Card Destruction appears symmetrical. Both players discarded, and both players drew. But something about Shadow Ghoul's earlier plays suddenly makes much more sense. It's deliberately filling its Graveyard. Every action has quietly contributed to the same objective.'
Alexander's gaze shifted toward the spirit across from him as he realised, 'Its deck is built around the Graveyard as a resource.'
Shadow Ghoul offered no explanation; it simply rested its arms once more and announced, "I change Mystic Tomato to Defence Position and end my turn."
The words echoed softly through the barrier.
Alexander drew for his turn then, his eyes immediately settled on the lone Mystic Tomato still standing stubbornly in Defence Position and the set card next ot it.
Both were still blocking the field, and if he wanted to pressure Shadow Ghoul directly, those obstacles had to disappear.
Without hesitation, he raised his hand and declared, "I start Battle Phase. Axe Raider attack Mystic Tomato."
The barbarian charged once again, boots pounding against the stone beneath him.
With another mighty roar, his axe descended, and as a result, Mystic Tomato exploded into fragments, but this time the darkness gathering above the shattered remains as it activated its effect felt noticeably heavier.
It condensed into the form of a towering fiend wreathed in shadows.
A towering, humanoid demon with charcoal-black skin and enormous bat-like wings that spread behind it like a living cloak. Its body was lean rather than muscular, giving it a spectral, almost corpse-like appearance.
Long, curved horns rose from its head, framing a gaunt face with glowing crimson eyes set deep in shadow. Its elongated claws and tattered wings made it resemble an ancient devil that has existed for centuries, standing motionless as darkness coils around it.
The creature's silhouette was far more striking than its details, as if parts of its form were swallowed by the surrounding gloom.
[Legendary Fiend - 1500 ATK / 1800 DEF]
The demonic warrior landed heavily upon the field, and Alexander's expression grew more serious as he remembered its effect, 'At every Standby Phase, Legendary Fiend's attack will continue to increase. If left alone... By Shadow Ghoul's next turn, it will reach 2200 ATK. Enough to overpower both Giltia and Axe Raider... Enough to seize control of the duel.'
Reaching that conclusion, Alexander didn't hesitate and said, "Hold it. I activate Bottomless Trap Hole."
One of his face-down cards flipped open, revealing the Trap card that shined brightly before the Duel Field split apart beneath Legendary Fiend with a deafening roar.
A massive abyss yawned open beneath the monster's feet, and before the fiend could react, enormous black chains burst upward from the darkness, wrapping tightly around its limbs and torso.
It struggled violently as the shadows surrounding its body flared wildly, but it wasn't enough.
The chains dragged the monster relentlessly downward into the endless void, and soon its roar faded into silence.
An instant later, the abyss slammed shut, and the battlefield became still once more.
Outside the barrier, Roland recoiled involuntarily.
His heart hammered against his ribs as he had heard the creature scream and had seen it struggle, making him realise, 'Whatever exists inside this barrier possesses weight... pain... reality.'
His eyes darted desperately across the shimmering wall searching for even the smallest weakness while muttering, "There has to be a way inside..."
He struck the barrier with the side of his fist, but it didn't even ripple.
His expression tightened as he pleaded in a low tone, "Please be careful, Master Alexander..."
Shadow Ghoul's confident smile disappeared.
Its crimson eyes widened ever so slightly, "Damn it..."
Alexander lowered his hand calmly, and his voice remained steady as he said, "Now, it should be gone for good."
Shadow Ghoul stared at the empty space where Legendary Fiend had stood, and only after hearing Alexander did it fully understand.
The monster hadn't been destroyed; it had been banished, thus it could be considered completely gone.
The hatred radiating from the Duel Spirit became almost tangible as the realisation settled in.
The oppressive silence settled over the battlefield once more.
The yawning abyss left behind by Bottomless Trap Hole had already vanished, as though it had never existed. Only the empty Monster Zone remained.
For the first time since the Shadow Game had begun, Shadow Ghoul's composure had cracked.
Its many crimson eyes lingered on the vacant space where the fiend had stood, the hatred radiating from its spectral form growing denser by the second. Wisps of black mist curled from beneath its tattered skin like smoke escaping a dying fire.
Alexander met the spirit's glare without flinching, as he had expected this reaction, especially since in the current state of the game, banishing is truly a troublesome mechanic instead of yet another resource of the modern era.
Shadow Ghoul's strategy clearly revolved around recycling monsters from the Graveyard. Banishing one of its key threats denied it that option completely.
It was a small advantage, but in a dangerous duel like this, small advantages often decided everything.
Outside, Roland never took his eyes off the duel.
He still couldn't understand what he was witnessing, but one truth had become painfully clear.
This was no game, and if Alexander lost, Roland feared he would never leave that barrier alive.
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