Chapter 53 – A Battle of Attrition
Without another word, Alexander shifted his attention back to the battlefield.
There was still one obstacle remaining, so he ordered, "Giltia, attack that set monster."
The knight acknowledged the command immediately.
His cape billowed behind him as he charged once more, spear raised in both hands.
The remaining face-down monster flipped.
[Giant Rat - 1400 ATK / 1450 DEF]
The oversized rodent let out a shrill squeal before Giltia's spear pierced through it.
Its body dissolved into shimmering particles and, just like every monster before it, the destruction triggered another effect.
The scattered light gathered behind Shadow Ghoul before condensing into another Giant Rat.
Alexander exhaled quietly before he lowered his hand and announced, "I end my turn."
The words echoed softly inside the enclosed battlefield.
Neither duelist moved, and for a heartbeat everything became still, then Shadow Ghoul slowly drew its next card.
The moment the Draw Phase ended, it didn't look toward its hand; instead, it grinned and announced, "Standby Phase..."
At first nothing happened, then Alexander noticed faint lights rising from Shadow Ghoul's Graveyard.
One. Two. Three.
Three pale feminine silhouettes emerged from the darkness, their forms barely visible beneath flowing robes before dissolving into streams of gentle white light, yet Alexander recognised them, Darklord Marie, a card that during the Standby Phase could increase the Life Points by 200 once it was in the Graveyard.
The spiritual energy flowed directly into Shadow Ghoul's body.
Outside the barrier, Roland watched in silence.
Three faint figures rose from the discarded cards before dissolving into streams of pale light that flowed into Shadow Ghoul.
He recognised the movement for what it represented: a card effect.
Alexander had explained countless times that monsters possessed abilities beyond battle, yet seeing those abilities take shape before his own eyes stirred an unease he struggled to describe.
The game's rules had not changed, but reality had simply begun obeying them.
The crimson glow surrounding the spirit intensified slightly, and beside its Duel Field, the floating numbers shifted.
[Shadow Ghoul - 3750 LP]
Alexander watched in silence as he understood, 'So that was the purpose behind Card Destruction... It hadn't simply been to cycle through the deck but also to intentionally fill its Graveyard because those cards became active once they reached it.'
That realisation made him reconsider every move Shadow Ghoul had made since the duel began, 'Mystic Tomato. Sangan. Card Destruction. Even the repeated defensive summons. Everything had been slowly building toward a position where the Graveyard becomes an extension of the field itself.'
Shadow Ghoul then made its move; it didn't attack or summon another monster, it simply placed one card face-down in the back row and changed Giant Rat to defence position.
The darkness swallowed it immediately before Shadow Ghoul announced, "I end my turn."
Alexander frowned, yet he didn't stop and drew while thinking, 'Whatever Shadow Ghoul is planning, I can't afford to let it dictate the pace forever.'
His eyes settled on the Giant Rat, and without hesitation, he entered his Battle Phase and ordered, "Axe Raider attack Giant Rat."
The barbarian roared, charging across the battlefield with earth-shaking strides.
His massive axe came crashing down, and the Giant Rat disappeared beneath the overwhelming blow.
Again, its effect activated and another Giant Rat emerged from the darkness.
Alexander's eyes narrowed as he muttered, "The last one."
Then he moved on, "Giltia, attack it."
The armoured knight surged forward before the summoned monster had fully steadied itself.
His spear flashed, and the final Giant Rat vanished beneath the strike, but since Giant Rat was Special Summoned in attack position, Shadow Ghoul's LP were damaged.
[Shadow Ghoul - 3300 LP]
This time the darkness behind Shadow Ghoul rippled violently.
The ground trembled, and low, grinding sounds echoed throughout the barrier as enormous slabs of ancient stone forced their way upward from beneath the Duel Field.
One block, then another, then another. The pieces locked together with thunderous impacts.
Higher and higher until an immense fortress wall towered over the battlefield.
Alexander instinctively looked upward; the structure was colossal but familiar.
Weathered stone stretched nearly to the top of the barrier, casting a long shadow over both duelists. Thick vines clung to its ancient surface while cracks ran through massive stone blocks that looked as though they had endured centuries of warfare.
[Labyrinth Wall - 0 ATK / 3000 DEF]
The monster stood motionless like an impenetrable bastion.
Even beyond the barrier, Roland instinctively straightened.
The fortress continued to rise until it dominated the chamber, its weathered stone casting an oppressive shadow over the battlefield.
He had expected another monster. Instead, it looked as though part of an ancient ruin had forced its way into the alley itself.
Once again, Roland found himself wondering just how much of what he was seeing was still part of the game.
Alexander studied the towering wall in silence, '3000 DEF... I'm not going to get through that with conventional means. It is clear that it isn't trying to defeat me. It merely needs to stall and survive. Every turn the fortress remains standing is another opportunity for Shadow Ghoul to further set up its board and ensure its victory.'
At the same time, Alexander couldn't help letting out a quiet breath, "Now that's an annoying wall."
Neither Giltia nor Axe Raider possessed enough strength to break through it. The wall had accomplished exactly what its name suggested as it halted his future advance completely.
He considered his remaining options, but none were worth committing, not yet.
Instead, he calmly slid another card onto his Duel Field and said, "I set one card."
Then he looked back toward Shadow Ghoul and announced, "I end my turn."
Shadow Ghoul drew once more before it grinned and announced, "It's the Standby Phase again..."
Again, three gentle lights drifted upward from its Graveyard, the three Darklord Maries.
Alexander didn't bother watching the spirits too much this time.
His eyes remained fixed on Shadow Ghoul, 'Six hundred more Life Points. Exactly as expected. Which means Shadow Ghoul wants a long game. A very long game...'
Once more, their spiritual energy flowed into the wayward Duel Spirit and the floating Life Point display shimmered.
[Shadow Ghoul - 3900 LP]
Shadow Ghoul's laughter returned; it was low, distorted, and satisfied as it said, "Hiehehe... You understand now... You can't win..."
Its voice echoed unnaturally throughout the barrier, "Like me, the Graveyard remembers."
Alexander said nothing as there was nothing to gain by answering.
The Duel Spirit slowly raised another card and said, "I summon Cannon Soldier in attack position."
A monster materialised before the towering Labyrinth Wall.
It was a stocky mechanical soldier clad in dark green and purple armour, with a round, riveted torso and thick, stubby limbs. Its oversized head is dominated by a massive cannon barrel. Large gauntlets, armoured boots, and exposed joints reinforce its industrial, military appearance, making it look like a wind-up siege engine brought to life.
[Cannon Soldier - 1400 ATK / 1300 DEF]
The machine lowered its heavy weapon, and Alexander immediately felt a faint sense of unease as that card was infamous for allowing the creation of a few infinite loop OTK Decks.
Roland studied the machine in silence.
Unlike the monstrous beasts or wandering spirits that had appeared throughout the duel, this one stood unnervingly still.
Its heavy cannon slowly settled toward Alexander's side of the field.
A faint unease settled in Roland's chest.
He did not know why, only that every instinct told him the machine had not been summoned to fight another monster.
Roland's premonition became stronger as Shadow Ghoul's smile widened before it flipped over its face-down Trap and said, "I activate Call of the Haunted and target Sangan in my Graveyard."
The darkness surrounding the Trap exploded outward.
Rusted chains burst from beneath the Duel Field, writhing through the air like living serpents.
They shot toward Shadow Ghoul's Graveyard before a familiar laugh echoed through the barrier.
The chains returned, dragging the tiny three-eyed fiend behind them.
[Sangan - 1000 ATK / 600 DEF]
The monster landed lightly beside Cannon Soldier, giving its eerie grin once more.
Alexander's eyes widened as he understood immediately, "Damn..."
Shadow Ghoul smiled and said, "Hiehehehe... Yes... I activate Cannon Soldier's effect."
The mechanical soldier slowly rotated, aiming directly toward Alexander while Sangan burst into motes of energy that flowed into the cannon; then the cannon fired.
A deafening explosion echoed throughout the barrier.
The shell struck Alexander directly as pain exploded through his chest.
It felt as though an invisible battering ram had slammed directly into his ribs.
The force knocked the breath from his lungs.
Alexander staggered backwards several steps, one hand instinctively clutching at his side as he let out a painful grunt, "Ghk...!"
Beside his Duel Field, the glowing numbers dropped instantly.
[Alexander - 3500 LP]
His breathing hitched, and every inhale sent another sharp ache radiating through his torso as he felt like his ribs cracked.
For a brief moment, his vision blurred while he thought, 'So that's... how it works...'
He had known Shadow Duels converted damage into real pain; he even experienced a lighter version of it during the negotiations with the Duel Spirits, but experiencing a real Shadow Game firsthand was an entirely different thing.
His lost Life Points hadn't been an abstract number or a brief shock-like pain; the Shadow Game had translated them into genuine suffering, not only physical but spiritual too.
Not enough to cripple him but enough that every future point of damage would carry real consequences.
Every instinct screamed at him to step back, to create distance, to breathe, but Alexander forced those thoughts aside.
This was still a duel, and the only way to get out of it was to face it head-on.
Alexander slowly forced himself upright.
Across the field, Shadow Ghoul watched silently, waiting for him to recover, enjoying his suffering.
Outside the barrier.
"Master Alexander!"
Roland crossed the distance in only a few strides before one gloved hand struck the shimmering barrier, yet it did not yield.
He pressed harder, but nothing changed
Alexander staggered several steps before slowly forcing himself back upright, one arm drawn tightly against his side.
Roland's gaze lingered upon him.
His breathing was uneven. Every movement carried a stiffness that had not been there moments before.
No illusion could leave a man like that; the pain inside the barrier was real.
Roland lowered his head for a brief moment, his hand remaining against the transparent wall.
He had spent years placing himself between danger and those under his protection, yet this time there was no attacker to confront.
There was only an invisible wall separating two worlds.
For the first time in many years, he could do nothing but watch.
Inside the barrier, Alexander finally steadied his breathing.
The pain remained.
A dull, persistent ache spread through his chest with every heartbeat, reminding him that this duel demanded far more than tactical skill.
He lifted his gaze toward Shadow Ghoul once again.
The spirit's distorted smile slowly widened until it stretched unnaturally across its face.
Its crimson eyes gleamed with malicious satisfaction, "This..."
Its voice came little more than a whisper, "... Is only the beginning."
The words lingered in the oppressive silence.
Behind the wayward Duel Spirit, the towering Labyrinth Wall stood like an immovable fortress, and beside it waited Cannon Soldier, its barrel still faintly smoking from the shot it had fired and somewhere within Shadow Ghoul's ever-growing Graveyard, more cards undoubtedly waited to be turned into weapons.
Alexander inhaled slowly despite the lingering pain.
The duel had entered a new phase.
Until now, Shadow Ghoul had been patiently assembling its board; now it had begun to reveal how dangerous that patience truly was.
Outside the barrier, Roland remained motionless.
His eyes never left Alexander.
Throughout his years serving his friend, Alexander's father, he had witnessed impossible things, mutants whose gifts defied explanation, advanced technology that bordered on science fiction, even vague whispers of genuine sorcery.
Less than a year ago, Duel Monsters had been little more than an idea taking shape beneath the young inventor's hands.
He had watched the game spread across Los Angeles one duel at a time and expanding over the state and even the country, bringing excitement and joy wherever it appeared.
Never once had he imagined it could become this.
A contest where defeat carried more than wounded pride, a game capable of inflicting genuine suffering.
At this point, he could only pray that Master Alexander was strong enough to overcome this trial.