Inside the Shadow Game, Alexander slowly rose back to his feet.
The pain remained as every breath reminded him of the three successive blasts, but his eyes never left Shadow Ghoul, not once.
The wayward Duel Spirit regarded him for another moment before giving a satisfied nod; only then did it place a single card face-down and announced, "I end my turn."
The words lingered in the silence.
Alexander started his turn and drew; he barely glanced at the card before adding it to his hand while thinking, 'A miss... I don't need it.'
His eyes were already fixed on the opposing field that was empty, as Shadow Ghoul had sacrificed everything to damage his Life Points and wear down his fighting spirit and will and now only a lone face-down card remained.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Alexander's mouth as he declared, "Battle Phase."
Neos looked toward him.
Alexander gave a single nod and said, "Attack directly."
The HERO disappeared in a flash of white light.
Without Labyrinth Wall or Cannon Soldier to impede him, nothing stood between Neos and his opponent.
He crossed the battlefield in an instant.
Shadow Ghoul barely had time to react before Neos' fist drove directly into its chest.
The impact sent the Duel Spirit staggering backwards several steps.
Its spectral body rippled violently as though the blow had struck its very essence.
The floating numbers above its Duel Field plummeted.
[Shadow Ghoul - 900 LP]
The wayward Duel Spirit caught itself before falling, breathing heavily despite possessing no true lungs.
Its many crimson eyes burned with renewed hatred as it glared across the battlefield.
Alexander simply lowered his arm and announced, "I end my turn."
The silence that followed felt heavier than ever as both duelists understood that the next turns would decide everything.
The silence hanging over the Shadow Game lasted only a heartbeat.
Shadow Ghoul's crimson eyes remained fixed on Alexander, hatred simmering beneath the surface of its twisted smile. Though its Life Points had been reduced by more than half, there was no panic in its expression. If anything, it looked almost expectant.
Alexander noticed, 'This isn't over yet... It still believes it can win...'
His gaze briefly swept across the opposing field while he quickly analysed the situation, 'One face-down card. An otherwise empty field. On the surface, Shadow Ghoul has exhausted nearly every resource at its disposal. But that's only on the surface. That set card will surely come in play this turn...'
Alexander had learned better than to trust appearances.
Shadow Ghoul slowly reached toward its Deck and said, "I draw."
The spectral card floated into its hand, then, without looking at Alexander, it spoke, "Hiehehe... It's the Standby Phase again. Which means..."
Once more, pale lights drifted upward from the darkness of its Graveyard as three familiar silhouettes emerged.
The graceful figures of the Darklord Marie dissolved into streams of white spiritual energy, flowing back into their master's body.
The aura surrounding Shadow Ghoul brightened, and its floating Life Points shifted.
[Shadow Ghoul - 1500 LP]
Alexander quietly exhaled while thinking, 'Once again. The Darklord Marie in the Graveyard continues to replenish its Life Points. It isn't enough to undo the direct attack from Neos, but this constant recovery may be the difference between a victory and a defeat, especially if it is a means to stall.'
While Alexander was thinking that, Shadow Ghoul slowly raised its gaze and said, "You still don't understand."
Alexander remained silent.
The Duel Spirit flipped over its face-down card and declared, "I activate Call of the Haunted to Special Summon a monster from my Graveyard in attack position, and I choose..."
The ancient Trap erupted in a burst of dark light.
Rusted chains burst from beneath the Duel Field, writhing through the air like living serpents before plunging into the depths of Shadow Ghoul's Graveyard.
Alexander watched carefully, expecting Cannon Soldier to return again.
That would have been the obvious choice, because it could chip his Life Points away, bypassing Neos.
Instead, a different presence answered the call.
The chains tightened, and a familiar structure slowly emerged from the darkness as Shadow Ghoul called out, "...Labyrinth Wall!"
Fragments of the destroyed stone fortress rose from beneath the Duel Field, pulled upward by chains. Massive slabs floated through the air, briefly reconstructing the ancient wall before cracks fixed across every surface, making the monster stand in front of Shadow Ghoul as a whole.
[Labyrinth Wall - 0 ATK / 3000 DEF]
Alexander's eyes narrowed slightly because he couldn't understand, 'Why revive Labyrinth Wall at this moment? Especially since Call of the Haunted can only Special Summon in attack position and it can't change position this turn...'
Shadow Ghoul answered before he could finish the thought as another Spell Card floated onto the field, "I activate the Equip Spell Magical Labyrinth and equip it to Labyrinth Wall."
The Spell dissolved into swirling magical symbols that surrounded Labyrinth Wall and dissolved into it, then nothing else happened.
At least until the wayward Duel Spirit declared, "Now, I activate Magical Labyrinth's effect. I Tribute the equipped monster to Special Summon Wall Shadow from my Deck."
The barrier responded violently to that declaration.
The battlefield shook, and the entire structure collapsed again, but not into rubble, into darkness.
Something moved inside the crumbling stone as countless crimson eyes opened, and from within the collapsing remains, another figure emerged, a familiar one.
From the heart of the collapsing stone, darkness gathered into form.
It was not a beast of flesh but a living shadow draped in the shape of one. Many crimson eyes burned all over its faceless head, framed by jagged horn-like protrusions that vanished into blackness. Long talons slowly emerged from the darkness surrounding its green and black body while shattered blocks of the labyrinth floated around it, as though the creature had been sleeping inside the wall itself. The air grew heavier with every movement as the shadow finally pulled free from its crumbling prison.
The living labyrinth had given birth to its true guardian.
It's Wall Shadow, another form of Shadow Ghoul.
[Wall Shadow - 1600 ATK / 3000 DEF]
Seeing that, Alexander nodded faintly and commented, "So that's why it chose Labyrinth Wall..."
Labyrinth Wall had never been intended to remain on the field forever; its destruction had merely fulfilled the condition for Shadow Ghoul's next play.
The Duel Spirit laughed softly and said, "Hiehahaha... You've finally begun to see, but it's too late."
It clearly wasn't finished as one final card floated from its hand as it announced, "Now, I tribute Wall Shadow to Summon... Myself!"
In an instant, dark mist spread across the battlefield as the air grew colder.
The shadows surrounding Shadow Ghoul thickened until they resembled a living sea.
From within the wall, the familiar figure fully emerged, twisting into a grotesque humanoid shape before solidifying into an emaciated figure as the wall behind it crumbled completely.
Its green-black flesh clung to a skeletal frame. A mouth full of needle-like fangs stretched into a monstrous grin, but it was the eyes that froze the alley.
Crimson eyes covered its body by the dozens, staring from its face, shoulders, chest, and arms with silent, ravenous malice.
It was an exact copy of Shadow Ghoul.
[Shadow Ghoul - 1600 ATK / 1300 DEF]
The monster released a low growl as it stepped onto the Duel Field, and at the same time, the Duel Spirit announced with increasing excitement, "And now that I'm on the field, my effect activates!"
Alexander felt something immediately.
His enhanced Spiritual Awareness reacted before the card's effect fully manifested as thin strands of pale spiritual energy began flowing from the Graveyard.
Not toward the Duel Spirit but toward its reflection on the field.
Every fallen Mystic Tomato, every Giant Rat, every Sangan, every Darklord Marie, even the remains of Cannon Soldier, Labyrinth Wall and Wall Shadow.
Their lingering spiritual essence streamed into Shadow Ghoul like rivers feeding a single ocean.
The monster's body visibly expanded, growing more and more massive while its aura thickened.
Darkness swirled violently around it, and the floating Attack Points began climbing.
1700...
2000...
2400...
The pressure inside the barrier became almost crushing.
Roland, still outside the Shadow Game, instinctively took half a step backwards despite being unable to sense Duel Spirits as clearly as Alexander.
The undead creature continued absorbing more and more power.
2700...
Until finally the numbers stopped.
[Shadow Ghoul - 3100 ATK / 1300 DEF]
Alexander stared at the towering monster, then everything clicked into place, 'Mystic Tomato. Sangan. Giant Rat. Card Destruction. Cannon Soldier. Every card. Every sacrifice. Every search. Every discard. Everything had served one purpose. To flood the Graveyard, to create fuel for Shadow Ghoul itself... This monster... This was its objective. To empower itself.'
"I see." Alexander's voice remained calm, "Your entire deck... exists to support you."
Shadow Ghoul spread both arms proudly, "Hiahahaha! You finally understand."
Its laughter echoed throughout the barrier, "My Graveyard... is my kingdom, and with it I become the strongest!"
It pointed a talon toward Neos and announced with pure malice, "I will destroy him!"
The Shadow Ghoul on the field lunged, and Neos didn't retreat.
The HERO launched himself forward to meet the attack head-on.
Their fists collided, and the impact shook the barrier from end to end.
For one brief moment, neither monster yielded.
Light and darkness struggled against one another, neither able to gain ground.
Then Shadow Ghoul's overwhelming strength prevailed as its swollen muscles pushed forward relentlessly.
Neos' footing broke.
The HERO was driven backwards before the undead monster's claws tore across his chest, piercing right through it.
Then Neos dissolved into countless particles of light as the shockwave of his destruction advanced toward Alexander, who felt the attack an instant later.
The invisible force struck him squarely in the chest, and his floating Life Points dropped again.
[Alexander - 1400 LP]
A crushing weight drove him back a full step.
His breathing caught painfully, his ribs screamed in protest, but even so he remained standing.
Beyond the barrier, Roland unconsciously clenched his fists again.
Every instinct told him to intervene, yet there was nothing he could do. He could only watch as Alexander endured injuries that no ordinary duel should have inflicted.
At the same time, Shadow Ghoul laughed triumphantly, "Hiehahaha! Even your greatest monster falls before my might!"
It turned toward Alexander and declared with pure, malicious glee, "The next turn will be your final one!"
With that, its Battle Phase had reached its end and unable to press any farther, the Duel Spirit slowly lowered its hand and reluctantly announced, "...I end my turn."
Alexander nodded once, took a deep breath to somewhat regulate the pain, and said, "Uff... My turn."
He reached toward his Deck.
The familiar motion felt strangely calming despite the lingering pain throughout his body.
One card, that was all. He drew, and his eyes settled upon it.
For the first time since the duel had begun, he truly smiled with quiet certainty.
Across the field, Shadow Ghoul frowned and asked, "...Why are you smiling?"
Alexander slowly looked up; their eyes met as he said, "I'm smiling because..."
He held the card between two fingers, "...I've already won."
The words echoed softly inside the barrier.
Roland blinked as he realised that it wasn't bravado.
He had heard that tone before. Whenever Alexander spoke with such quiet certainty, events invariably unfolded exactly as he predicted.
Shadow Ghoul stared at him for a moment, then it laughed.
A harsh, mocking sound as it said, "Hiahaha! Bluff all you like. You only have 1400 Life Points. My Shadow Ghoul is stronger than your HERO. It doesn't matter what you've drawn. I will win!"
Alexander shook his head and replied, "No. It matters very much... Now I activate my set Trap Card!"
His final face-down card flipped open as he continued, "Call of the Haunted! I target Elemental Hero Neos in my Graveyard and Special Summon it! Come forth, my favourite HERO!"
Golden chains burst upward from beneath his Duel Field.
Unlike Shadow Ghoul's rusted shackles, these shone with a warm, almost reassuring light.
They disappeared into Alexander's Graveyard, and a heartbeat later a pillar of radiant light erupted behind him.
Neos returned.
The HERO stepped forward as the chains shattered around him, immediately placing himself between Alexander and the menacing Shadow Ghoul.
For the first time in several turns, Shadow Ghoul clicked its tongue, "Tch... That one is back."
After that, Alexander placed the Spell onto his Duel Field and announced, "I also activate the Equip Spell card Neos Force and equip it to Elemental Hero Neos."
Radiant energy burst from the Equip Spell, enveloping Neos in brilliant white light.
The HERO's body shone with renewed brilliance.
Pure white energy traced intricate patterns across his whole body as waves of power rolled outward to the point that even the oppressive darkness filling the barrier seemed to recoil.
At the same time, Neos' Attack Points surged.
2500...
2800...
3000...
They climbed one final time.
[Elemental Hero Neos - 3300 ATK / 2000 DEF]
Shadow Ghoul's laughter stopped, and its many eyes widened while Alexander calmly extended one hand and announced, "Battle Phase. Neos, attack Shadow Ghoul!"
The HERO vanished with no wasted movement or hesitation, only absolute speed.
Wall Shadow barely had time to raise its talons before Neos' fist crashed directly through the guardian's chest.
The monster shattered into thousands of fragments of stone and shadow that scattered across the battlefield before dissolving into nothingness.
The shockwave reached Shadow Ghoul immediately, making it grunt in pain as its floating Life Points fell.
[Shadow Ghoul - 1300 LP]
The Duel Spirit staggered backwards, muttering a weak, "No..."
Alexander's eyes remained fixed on Neos as it announced, "Now, Neos Force's effect activates. When Neos destroys a monster by battle and sends it to the Graveyard, it inflicts damage to my opponent equal to the original ATK of the destroyed monster in the Graveyard. In this case... 1600 points!"
The radiant aura surrounding the HERO suddenly intensified before Neos released the excess energy generated by the victorious battle in the form of an energy ball.
Shadow Ghoul looked up, and realisation finally dawned across its face, "...Impossible... NOOOOO!"
The unleashed energy ball struck; there was nowhere to run.
The remaining 1850 Life Points dipped instantly to 0.
[Shadow Ghoul - 0 LP]
Silence.
The barrier stopped trembling, and the oppressive darkness filling the alley simply stopped as everything became still.
Shadow Ghoul stared blankly at the floating zero above its Duel Field.
Its fangs moved as the word barely escaped, "...Impossible..."
Its body began dissolving into drifting fragments of black mist, and Alexander felt the Shadow Game respond.
An unfamiliar certainty settled gently into his mind as a new set of information surfaced in his mind.
The Penalty Game, the punishment given to someone who loses or cheats in a Shadow Game; the victor may choose one.
For a brief instant, countless possibilities flashed through his thoughts.
Destroy the defeated spirit. Seal it forever. Strip away its power. Erase its existence.
Alexander's gaze drifted beyond the dissolving barrier, toward the unconscious teenagers lying in the alley.
He remembered the news reports, the victims, the countless children who had fallen into unexplained comas as their stolen Spirit Energy had sustained this monster.
At that point, his choice became obvious.
He raised his head and announced, "I invoke the Penalty Game."
Shadow Ghoul's fading expression twisted into alarm, "W-Wait—"
Outside the barrier, Roland froze, 'Penalty Game...?'
He had no idea what those words meant, but the sudden fear and panic that creature displayed told him everything he needed to know.
Alexander's voice remained calm as he declared, "You will return every fragment of Spirit Energy you stole."
He took one measured step forward, "Every victim."
Another, "Every child."
His eyes never left the spirit's, "Every single one of them. Then return to the Spirit World and never set foot in this world ever again."
Panic replaced hatred, "N-No!"
The Shadow Game answered as golden chains erupted from every corner of the barrier, wrapping tightly around Shadow Ghoul's dissolving body.
This time, there was no escape as the chains tightened and brilliant streams of pale light burst from the monster's chest.
Then another, then hundreds more.
Alexander watched silently as every stolen fragment of Spirit Energy raced skyward before passing effortlessly through the barrier itself, streaking away like countless shooting stars toward unseen destinations across Los Angeles.
Some returned to hospitals, some to homes, some to frightened children who would awaken with no memory of what had happened.
Roland watched in silence as countless lights escaped from Shadow Ghoul and vanished into the night sky.
He didn't fully understand what he was witnessing yet one thing was unmistakable.
Alexander could have destroyed the spirit outright; instead, his first concern had been the children it had harmed, and that made Roland smile proudly.
Shadow Ghoul screamed as everything it had stolen and everything it had hoarded was abandoning it, "No! No! NO!! This isn't over! I'll—"
The chains tightened one final time as the barrier refused to let the threat continue.
Shadow Ghoul's body shattered into innumerable motes of darkness that scattered like ash upon the wind before disappearing completely.
[Ding!]
Silence returned.
The barrier slowly dissolved.
The dark walls faded into transparent light before vanishing altogether.
The ordinary alley unfolded around them once more while the suffocating spiritual pressure lifted.
Cool evening air rushed back in.
Roland didn't hesitate.
The instant the last trace of the barrier disappeared, he hurried forward while calling out, "Master Alexander!"
Relief was written plainly across his usually composed face.
He stopped only after confirming Alexander was still standing.
Though his breathing was heavier than usual, and the lingering pain was evident in the slight stiffness of his posture, he was alive.
Alexander looked down as the translucent Duel Field before him dissolved into countless motes of light, disappearing like morning mist beneath the sun.
Only then did he quietly exhale, "...Well."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, "I suppose that's one way to confirm Shadow Games are real..."
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