Alexander drew a slow, measured breath as the lingering ache in his chest still hadn't faded.
Every inhale reminded him of the blow Cannon Soldier had inflicted only moments ago. The pain wasn't sharp anymore, but it lingered beneath his ribs like a heavy bruise, a constant reminder that this duel demanded far more than skill with cards; this was a Shadow Duel.
His gaze drifted briefly toward the floating numbers beside his Duel Field.
[Alexander - 3500 LP]
Every point of damage is real.
He had known the theory. The manga he casually read and anime he watched all agreed on one thing: a Shadow Game blurred the line between illusion and reality.
Now he understood why Duel Spirits spoke of them with such reverence and the characters in those stories feared them.
This wasn't merely a game given physical form. Every decision carried consequences, and every attack drew genuine suffering. Victory wasn't measured solely by Life Points, but it was measured by who could endure.
Across the field, Shadow Ghoul watched him with unmistakable satisfaction.
The spirit's crimson eyes gleamed beneath its shadowy skin as its distorted smile slowly widened, "Oh yes... I like that pained expression on your face..."
Its voice echoed unnaturally within the barrier, "... I will ensure that you will show me more of them."
Alexander offered no reply; instead, he calmly reached toward the Deck floating before him and drew.
The card slid effortlessly into his hand.
His eyes scanned it and widened almost imperceptibly, only for an instant, then his expression relaxed completely.
Without betraying another hint of emotion, he looked back across the battlefield and understood that the situation had changed.
Labyrinth Wall still towered over Shadow Ghoul's field as an immovable fortress of ancient stone, and Cannon Soldier stood nearby, its massive barrel still faintly smoking from the damage it had just caused.
His own field wasn't much better.
Giltia the D. Knight and Axe Raider had both performed exactly as he'd needed them to, and now they had another purpose.
"It is my turn." Alexander raised the draw card with his fingers and said, "I tribute Giltia the D. Knight..."
The knight glanced back toward him, and without hesitation, he lowered his spear in acknowledgement before dissolving into countless motes of silver light.
"...and Axe Raider to summon..."
The barbarian laughed loudly, raising his axe one final time before his massive body also broke apart into streams of brilliant energy.
Both currents spiralled skyward while the barrier trembled.
The spiritual energy released by the two monsters gathered high above the battlefield, swirling together into an enormous pillar of white light that made the whole alley shake.
Even outside the barrier, Roland instinctively raised an arm to shield his eyes from the brilliance.
The barrier itself hadn't changed once since the duel began, at least until now.
The light pouring from Alexander's field wasn't merely brighter than before; it caused the very surface of the Shadow Barrier to ripple like disturbed water.
Roland lowered his arm just enough to keep watching and muttered, "...A new monster?" but then he thought, 'No... I have witnessed Master Alexander summon several creatures already. None had affected the barrier itself. Whatever was descending onto the battlefield... was different.'
The light intensified.
Shadow Ghoul's confident smile slowly faded, and for the first time since the duel had begun, its expression changed into something closer to unease.
The pillar slowly dispersed, and from the fading radiance descended a humanoid warrior clad not in armour but in a body of gleaming white that looked sculpted from living light itself.
Deep cobalt markings flowed across his powerful frame like streams of energy frozen beneath polished ivory, converging upon a brilliant azure core embedded in the centre of his chest.
His smooth, expressionless face bore only piercing green eyes beneath a swept-back crest, giving him the unmistakable appearance of a celestial champion rather than a mortal fighter.
As his feet touched the stone with effortless grace, the lingering brilliance around him slowly receded, leaving behind an overwhelming presence that made the very air inside the Shadow Barrier feel lighter, as though hope itself had answered Alexander's call.
At the same time, Alexander called out, "Elemental HERO Neos!"
[Elemental Hero Neos - 2500 ATK / 2000 DEF]
The HERO slowly straightened, his calm gaze settling upon Shadow Ghoul.
Silence followed.
Alexander watched carefully, feeling the echoes of the pain fading away in the presence of his favourite card, the one that saved him many times during his negotiations in the Spirit World.
Neos remained perfectly still, yet his eyes never left Shadow Ghoul.
The Duel Spirit reacted instinctively, almost without realising it, as it took a single step backwards, but Alexander noticed immediately and smiled because the reaction had been genuine.
Roland also didn't miss it, 'The creature inside the barrier fighting Master Alexander had recoiled from the mere presence of Alexander's favourite monster.'
While thinking that, he muttered, "...Interesting."
Shadow Ghoul seemed to realise what it had done, and its posture stiffened before hatred quickly replaced the brief uncertainty.
Alexander quietly grinned to himself while thinking, 'So even Duel Spirits have instincts they can't completely suppress.'
Then he extended one hand and announced, "Battle Phase. Neos attack Cannon Soldier!"
Neos moved.
There was no dramatic charge or battle cry.
One instant he stood beside Alexander, the next he was already crossing the battlefield; his speed left only a faint streak of white light behind him.
Cannon Soldier barely had time to rotate its oversized weapon before Neos' fist struck first.
The impact exploded across the battlefield.
Metal twisted violently before shattering into countless fragments that scattered like broken glass.
The mechanical soldier disappeared in a burst of light while a shockwave rippled across Shadow Ghoul's field, pushing the wayward Duel Spirit back, who let out a painful grunt, "Urgh...!"
At the same time, the floating Life Point display flickered.
[Shadow Ghoul - 2800 LP]
The Duel Spirit staggered more, one talon instinctively clutching its chest while its expression twisted into frustration.
Outside the barrier, Roland allowed himself the faintest breath of relief.
For the first time since the duel had begun, Alexander had forced the creature onto the defensive, yet his gaze never left the young man's posture.
Alexander still favoured one side ever so slightly, making him grimly realise, 'Not good... Whatever injuries those attacks inflicted, they remained.'
Alexander simply watched and calmly folded his arms before announcing, "I end my turn."
The words echoed softly through the barrier.
Shadow Ghoul remained motionless for several seconds as its crimson eyes stayed fixed on Neos.
The HERO monster hadn't moved since destroying Cannon Soldier; he simply stood before Alexander, calm and unwavering.
Watching and waiting.
Eventually, Shadow Ghoul drew, and then it said, "Now it's the Standby Phase, and the Darklord Marie's effects activate again."
Once again, three faint lights emerged from its Graveyard.
Alexander recognised them immediately. Three graceful feminine silhouettes drifted upward through the darkness, the Darklord Marie.
Their expressions remained peaceful as their forms dissolved into streams of pale spiritual energy.
The light flowed directly into Shadow Ghoul, and its shadow-like body brightened slightly.
The floating Life Point display shimmered.
[Shadow Ghoul - 3400 LP]
Alexander silently clicked his tongue while thinking, 'At every Standby Phase... Individually, the recovery isn't overwhelming, but over several turns... it becomes significant and frustrating. Especially in a duel where every point of damage requires real effort against stall tactics.'
While Alexander thought that, Shadow Ghoul slowly lowered the card it had drawn and announced, "I activate the Spell card Monster Reborn to Special Summon a monster from either Graveyard."
Green lightning erupted across its field as the familiar magical seal appeared above the Graveyard.
Alexander immediately knew what was coming.
The circle glowed brighter, and a familiar laugh echoed through the barrier, making Alexander comment, "As expected, that's what it has been searching for."
The magic completed, and Sangan emerged from the Graveyard once more, landing lightly upon the Duel Field as though it had never left.
Its three eyes blinked independently before settling into the same unsettling grin Alexander had already destroyed once before.
[Sangan - 1000 ATK / 600 DEF]
Shadow Ghoul didn't say anything in response to Alexander's comment; instead, it immediately revealed another card and said, "Now, I summon Cannon Soldier in attack position."
The squat mechanical construct materialised once again beside Sangan, its heavy gears turned noisily as the oversized cannon slowly lifted into position.
[Cannon Soldier - 1400 ATK / 1300 DEF]
Alexander narrowed his eyes as he already understood what was coming.
The combo hadn't disappeared.
Legendary Fiend and Labyrinth Wall, neither of them had been the true objective; they had merely occupied him while Shadow Ghoul assembled this engine.
At this point, Shadow Ghoul grinned maliciously again and declared, "I activate Cannon Soldier's effect."
The barrel rotated toward Alexander again, making him instinctively brace himself while Sangan burst into motes of energy that flowed into the cannon.
The machine fired, and a deafening explosion echoed throughout the barrier.
The vanished Sangan dispersed in a burst of dark particles before its spirit immediately streamed back toward Shadow Ghoul's Deck for another search and another monster added to its hand.
At the exact same instant Alexander felt it, the impact of the fired shell slammed into his chest once again.
His floating Life Points instantly dropped.
[Alexander - 3000 LP]
Pain radiated through his torso.
He stumbled half a step backwards, instinctively drawing a sharper breath, "Hng...!"
His ribs protested immediately as the ache from the previous blast hadn't fully faded and this strike landed on top of it, making the lingering soreness flare into fresh pain.
Outside the barrier, Roland's expression tightened while thinking, 'Master Alexander hides the pain well. He always had. As a child, he had treated scraped knees as inconveniences. Later, broken bones earned little more than a grimace before insisting he was "fine." Yet that single involuntary gasp...'
Roland hadn't heard one like it in years, and that thought made his gloved hand slowly curl into a fist.
Across the field, Shadow Ghoul watched with cruel amusement as it asked in a mocking tone, "It hurts... doesn't it?"
Alexander slowly straightened; his breathing remained controlled despite the pain, as he replied, "Urg... I've endured worse."
In response, Shadow Ghoul's smile faltered for only a heartbeat before widening again and commenting, "So stubborn... But everyone breaks eventually."
Without waiting for another response, it pointed with its sharp talon once more and announced, "I activate Cannon Soldier's effect again."
This time its cannon slowly turned away from Alexander, and instead, it aimed toward the immense stone fortress standing beside it, the Labyrinth Wall.
Seeing that, Alexander's eyes narrowed slightly while thinking, 'You're sacrificing your own defence?'
The cannon fired, and the terrible shell struck the ancient wall directly, and as a result, the colossal structure shook violently.
Cracks raced across its surface before the entire fortress collapsed inward, dissolving into streams of spiritual energy.
The cannon absorbed the released energy before it turned toward Alexander again and fired.
Another deafening explosion echoed throughout the barrier.
Alexander gritted his teeth through the pain as his Life Points fell again.
[Alexander - 2500 LP]
The second wave struck harder than the first, making his breathing hitch and, for a split second, his vision blurred before quickly clearing again.
His knees bent ever so slightly, only for him to straighten once more through sheer force of will.
Outside the barrier, Roland's jaw tightened.
He had witnessed Alexander grow up from a small child into the fine teen he was today.
He had seen him take on every challenge that stood in his way and succeed every single time, even those that required intense physical activity and stand tall, yet now simply remaining upright seemed to require effort.
Roland stepped closer; his gloved fingertips brushed the shimmering surface.
It felt completely solid.
He traced along it slowly, searching for any kind of opening or weakness. A seam, a fluctuation, anything but he found nothing.
His jaw tightened before he struck the barrier once with the heel of his palm.
No reaction.
Again.
Still nothing.
Only then did restraint finally give way; his fist crashed against the barrier as he muttered, "Damn it..."
The barrier didn't even tremble.
Roland had broken training dummies, splintered oak boards.
Once, years ago, he'd bent a steel lock with a crowbar simply because Alexander had been trapped behind it.
None of that strength mattered here.
For the first time in a long while, he truly realised that there was absolutely nothing he could do.
Inside, Shadow Ghoul laughed quietly as it kept sneering at him, "You see? The Shadow Game strips away every illusion. It doesn't matter how strong your body is. It reaches the soul."
Alexander remained silent as he refused to give the wayward Duel Spirit the satisfaction of seeing him react.
Shadow Ghoul raised one final hand, and with a malicious grin, he declared, "I activate Cannon Soldier for one last time."
Alexander immediately understood, "...You're sacrificing it."
The spirit's smile widened as it confirmed, "Exactly."
The mechanical soldier slowly lowered its weapon toward itself as its gears spun faster.
Light gathered inside the barrel, then another deafening blast echoed through the barrier.
Cannon Soldier exploded into fragments of steel and light while the released energy surged across the battlefield one final time.
Alexander's Life Points fell once more.
[Alexander - 2000 LP]
The third impact crashed into him like a battering ram, making his entire body tense up.
Pain erupted through his chest, forcing the air from his lungs.
He dropped to one knee before catching himself with one hand against the Duel Field.
"...!"
For several long seconds he simply remained there breathing slowly and deliberately, refusing to let the pain control him.
The impact forced Alexander to one knee.
Outside the barrier, Roland moved before he even realised it as he yelled, "Master Alexander!"
His voice struck the shimmering barrier and died there.
He placed one gloved hand against its surface.
The barrier remained cold, silent and impassive, making him weakly mutter, "...Please."
It wasn't a plea Alexander could hear, nor was it meant for him.
Roland no longer knew whether he was begging the barrier or whatever power had created it.
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