Yu-Gi-Oh!: This isn't a duel!

"I've chosen to add the Spell Card—[Time Stalker - Stop Seconds]—to my hand from my deck!"

Both players replenished their hands almost simultaneously during this round of combat.

The difference is that one is a blind draw based on luck, while the other is a precise search based on rigorous calculations.

Lucien bowed slightly: "Although it's a bit of a pity, it's still your stage now."

"Tch! What a meticulous guy!"

Giskill added the newly drawn card to her hand with displeasure, then took a deep breath, and her demeanor suddenly changed.

The playful and joking atmosphere of idols vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling depth and mystery.

She hovered amidst the swirling ice crystals and the shattered data streams, her smile becoming increasingly enigmatic.

"Since ordinary program effects can't satisfy you..."

Kisskill slowly extended her index finger and gently pressed it against her cherry blossom-like lips, making a forbidden "shush" gesture:

"Shh-"

"Then let's enter... the 'inner world' that only opens at midnight."

"Snapped!"

With a crisp snap of her fingers, the bright and dazzling cyber neon lights around her were instantly swallowed up by an invisible giant mouth.

The entire dueling arena was plunged into a chilling, pure darkness. It was an abyss from which even starlight could not penetrate.

The three monsters on the field—【Live☆ Twin Gisgil Frost Spirit】, 【Evil★ Twin Lira】, and 【Red Tear Demon of the Day of Tears】—slowly floated into the air in the darkness, their bodies emitting a faint phosphorescent glow.

Kiskill floated in this void, her red pupils slightly narrowed. Her hands made a gesture in the air as if caressing some invisible staircase, and her voice became ethereal and deep, like a chant from hell:

"I will offer these three monsters on the field... as sacrifices to that endless spiral!"

"Appear, circuit leading to the end!"

"Arrow confirmed! Summoning condition is—2 or more monsters, including a Link Monster!"

In the darkness, there was no earth-shattering explosion, nor any dazzling light effects.

Only a soft sigh, as if from the depths of a dream, gently brushed past the ears of everyone present, sending shivers down their spines.

"Om..."

A massive, twisted spiral staircase of black iron appeared out of thin air.

"The lonely shadow hovering over the Tower of Victory..."

"Listen to the footsteps of the soul, follow the staircase leading to nothingness!"

"At the edge of the abyss, where light can never reach—open that eye of judgment!"

"Link Summon! Link-4 - [A-Ba-A-Ku the Shadow of No Light]!!"

It has no beginning and no end, only extending a cold and complex outline in the darkness, as if leading to an indescribable dimension.

In the deepest shadow of those steps, a huge, scarlet single eye slowly opened.

There was no emotion in that eye, only deathly stillness, staring intently at Lucien ahead—a gaze from the very depths of the abyss.

At the heart of this terrifying backdrop, a barefoot girl in a long, black gothic dress floats suspended in the air. Like a delicate doll, she rests silently on the spiral staircase, waiting for her prey to approach.

In the absolute darkness that devours all light, the girl named [Shadow of No Light A-Bao-A-Ku] floats silently.

She possessed long, pale, and beautiful silver hair, as white as moonlight, radiating a faint, cold glow in this lightless world, as if she were the only source of light in this deathly silence.

That exquisitely beautiful face, like that of a top-quality porcelain doll, was expressionless, except for those blood-red eyes that revealed a chilling emptiness and nothingness.

The elaborate black gothic dress she wore resembled a red spider lily blooming on the other side of the underworld, its layers of lace and ribbons dancing eerily in the windless void, as if it possessed its own life.

She looked so small and fragile, as if she could break at any moment.

However, the space around her was visibly distorted because of her enormous "presence".

All light inexplicably disappears the moment it gets close to her, as if she herself is the embodiment of the concept of "no light," a black hole capable of swallowing the world.

【The Shadow Without Light A-Bao A-Ku】

【Link-4】【Top Left/Left/Right/Bottom Right】【Dark/Demon/Link/Effect】【Attack Power: 2800】

However, Kiskill showed no fear in the face of such a terrifying being.

She landed lightly on the shoulder of that terrifying presence, like a naive little bird, swinging her legs and winking playfully at the camera:

"Let me introduce you, this is my 'shadow' friend. Although she's not very talkative and a bit socially awkward, she has quite a temper!"

Seemingly having heard Kisskill's introduction, the girl, who had been as still as a statue, turned her head slightly, and a ripple of life appeared in her red eyes.

"……haven't seen you for a long time."

Her voice was as soft as a sigh, yet it clearly penetrated into everyone's mind.

A-Bao-A-Ku twitched the corners of his mouth at the twins on his shoulders, revealing a slightly stiff but warm smile.

Even a resident of the abyss would be quite happy to see a friend he hadn't seen in a long time.

"Long time no see!" Kisskill affectionately nuzzled her cheek.

This seemingly heartwarming reunion scene caused Lucien and Andre Anfo on the other side to be startled, their hearts filled with turbulent waves.

"It's... talking to a summoned monster?!"

Lucien's fingers tightened involuntarily as he gripped the card.

If it were just a simple instruction, that would be fine, but this kind of dialogue, which is like an emotional exchange between old friends, completely goes beyond the scope of "Duel Monsters"!

"Is this... the true power of an elf?"

Lucien took a deep breath, his eyes revealing not only his original wariness but also an undisguised fanaticism and fear.

The power to transcend dimensions and forge bonds with otherworldly beings is indeed something to yearn for.

Ignoring the human's inner thoughts, Kiskill clapped her hands and jumped off A-Bao-A-Ku's shoulder with a laugh:

"Since we've already exchanged greetings, let's save the reminiscing for the victory celebration banquet."

"Now—I'll borrow your power, A-Bao-A-Ku!"

Kiskill's eyes narrowed, and she announced loudly:

"I activate the effect of [Shadowless A-Bao-A-Ku] on the field!"

"During your or your opponent's Main Phase, you can discard 1 card from your hand and activate 1 of the following effects!"

"● One card on the field is destroyed."

"● This card can be banished until the End Phase to Special Summon 1 LIGHT/DARK monster from your Graveyard."

"Resource Exchange!"

Kissgill draws a card from her hand; it's a pass to the backstage:

"I discard my Quick-Play Spell Card—[Live Stream☆Twins Entry Page]—as the price to activate its second effect!"

"Go and rest for a while, my friend!"

"Put aside [Shadowless Apo Aku] for now, and Special Summon [Live☆Twin Rila] from the Graveyard!"

As the effect activated, the silver radiance on [Shadow of No Light A-Bao-A-Ku] suddenly shone brightly. Then, she nodded slightly, and her body transformed into countless black feathers that dissipated into the void.

At the point where she disappeared, the vortex of the abyss reversed. A petite figure in azure blue emerged from the water, returning to the battlefield with a stream of data.

【Live Stream☆ Twin Ryura】【★2】

[Dark/Cyber ​​Race] [Attack: 500 / Defense: 0]

"Then, in this very moment!"

This combo flowed smoothly, without any lag. The moment Lila landed, she immediately raised her hand:

"【Live Stream☆Twin Rila】Entry effect activated!"

"If this card is Normal or Special Summoned, you can activate this effect if you control no other monsters."

Special Summon 1 "Giskill" monster from your hand or Deck.

"Reload!"

Lila snapped her fingers: "Come out, partner!"

"I choose to Special Summon the second one from my deck—[Live Stream Twins Kisskill]!"

A flash of red light, accompanied by cheerful electronic sound effects, and the chibi version of Kissgeller reappeared on the field, standing side by side with Lila.

【Live Stream☆ Twins Kisskills】【★2】

[Light/Electronic Race] [Attack: 500 / Defense: 0]

Looking at the twins reunited on the field, Kissgeller's true form smiled confidently.

"Although we went around in circles, we arrived at the same destination by different paths!"

"Next, I will perform a Link Summon again!"

She suddenly waved her hand, and the surrounding darkness was instantly torn apart by the dazzling red neon lights:

"Backstage handover confirmed! Cut! The camera is now mine!"

"Appear, circuit that connects to the future!"

"Arrow confirmed! Two monsters containing [Kissgeller]!"

"I've assigned the [Live Stream Twins Kissgeller] and [Live Stream Twins Lila] on the field to the arrows!"

The two monsters transformed into red and blue data streams, like two intertwined twin stars, rushing towards the loop in the sky.

Kiskill's voice became alluring and dangerous:

"In this online world filled with lies and desires, I am the only truth—and your biggest problem!"

"Link Summon! Come forth—[Evil★Twin Kiskiller]!!"

"boom--!"

The brilliance of the data exploded, the smoke cleared, and the girl in the crimson functional suit, bearing the wings of a digital demon, reappeared.

This time, her gaze was even sharper than before, as if she were a vengeful queen returning from hell.