I Refused To Be Reincarnated

'I guess she doesn't want to cancel the match and went for a warning.'

He understood Elisabeth's decision to warn Geoffrey. Disqualifying him before the thunderous crowd would leave a bitter taste in everyone's mouth... except his.

"Hehehe. As you can see, I'll have no shame exposing you. So, by all means, cheat as much as you want."

An annoying and provocative smirk stretching his lips, he drew his first cards, taking his time to stare intently at the pale Geoffrey between each of his movements.

'Why did he try to get the first turn? To stop me from using my field spell, of course.'

"I summon the Pontianak and use my field spell: thunder sovereign's imperial court!"

With a wave of his hand, purple lightning rumbled in the field's sky. A storm followed, uplifting the plain and blurring it from everyone's view.

Purple pillars descended, molding the soil into a sumptuous grand hall mirroring Vivian's tower.

Seated on the throne, the silhouette of the archmage crackled with power as she peered into everyone's eyes, forcing their body to shudder and their legs to chatter against their will. After all, the pressure she emanated was genuine since he had met her in person.

"Any monster summoned on the Thunder sovereign's imperial court must face her piercing eyes. They'll lose two hundred attack points. If the remaining points are below one thousand seven hundred, their effects are sealed. I end my turn."

His voice boomed as he crossed his arm over his chest and tilted his hat to invite his adversary to dismantle his strategy.

Meanwhile, Geoffrey gritted his teeth. Arms trembling in a mix of hate and grudge, he drew his four cards.

However, he smirked as he scrutinised the mechanical dragon, his first tier-five monster. If he could summon it, he would turn the table and win.

"I summon the mechanical dog and use a boosting spell."

Metal gathered in clinking noises, shaping itself as a technological marvel in the form of a dog.

Its sharp metallic teeth, akin to knives, glinted in the grand hall as Vivian's shadow gazed at it.

ATK 1800->1600

Instantly, its shining armor rusted, giving it an ancient look as its attack lowered.

"I use a boosting spell. Once per turn, a mechanical creature can negate an effect."

After his chant, the dog howled its joy at recovering.

"I use its effect now. If an adversary stands on the other side of the field, it can summon a metallic soldier from my deck."

"Great. Don't forget to shuffle your deck after drawing it."

He snickered, making the crowd slap their legs in laughter while Geoffrey's face burned in rage.

Without answering, he retrieved the card and shuffled his deck without cheating.

Then, he slammed it in its slot.

This time, the metal gathered in the form of an armored humanoid holding a short drill-like spear and a thick shield.

The menacing glint in its eye drew everyone's attention. They had never seen creatures like that and wondered from where Geoffrey had summoned them.

"I end my turn."

"Did I give you the authorisation to, though?"

As his words raised a wave of excited cheers, the mechanical soldier became rusted.

ATK 1700->1500

Then, he continued, exciting the public as they observed the terrifying yet mesmerising naked beauty raise her nails.

"Any monster summoned when the Pontianak stands on the field must attack her. Start with the weakest one."

At his command, she released her sweet scent, smiling enticingly and forcing the soldier to step towards her despite his efforts to stop.

SHATTER

A scarlet flash cut through the wind the next second as scraps flew before colliding and clanking with the elegant white slabs.

As Geoffrey gritted his teeth, the soldier exploded into a rain of glistening shards before the Pontianak confronted the dog.

With a merciless swipe, she gutted it.

However, it bit her neck off in a last-ditch effort, making the confrontation a draw. After all, they had the same attack value.

"Now that your field is empty, you can end your turn."

He offered Geoffrey a cruel smile, aiming to shatter any hope of victory he could harbor... because he wouldn't give him a chance to summon anything.

Without wasting time, he drew a card and slammed the insect lord on the desk.

"I sacrifice the insect lord to summon Ignatius."

Like the first time he appeared in the tournament, the mad scientist cackled before parasitising the insect lord.

The crowd gasped at the emergence of the distorted creature, its gorilla arms, paws from different beasts and horrible head.

Even more terrifying than last time, it stood ten meters tall, and its attack increased since its base material was more powerful. Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire

ATK 3500

However, he was far from over.

"I remove the Pontianak and insect lord from my graveyard to summon Virgo's lesser incarnation."

The stars shone the moment he placed her card in its slot. In a magnificent display, they condensed into the shape of a beautiful lady. Her spear materialised in her hand, glinting like an amalgamation of celestial bodies and enchanting the public.

"I use her effect. Discard one of your two remaining cards."

Despite his unwillingness, Geoffrey discarded another mechanical monster with reddened eyes.

"Now, do your thing, bastard."

Without mercy, the colossal monstrosity grabbed the elegant lady and swallowed her whole.

His attack increased simultaneously, inheriting half her strength and effect.

ATK 3500->5000

"You can discard the other one."

His lips curled into an innocent smile as if to say, it's the game, don't blame me.

"Finally, I cast a boosting spell on Ignatius. Wrath of the Storm!"

Purple lightning arcs danced on Ignatius' skin, making him even more terrifying as his eagle eyes turned violet.

"He has no limitations on his effect now. So, be ready to discard your hand every turn."

That's one of the combos he thought of during the two-week break. With it, he would forbid his adversary to play, making cheating irrelevant.

'I still have a spell I didn't use, though. I'm almost sad that I had to play first.'

He chuckled, remembering the countermeasure he had developed against field spells and how he would have negated their effects.

In an excellent mood with the victory in the bag, he observed Geoffrey's trembling figure, wondering what he would do with no cards in hand, no monsters on the field, and no spells.