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"Next, I activate the Equip Spell Card 'Guardian Power' and equip it to one of my 'Gunner Dragon the Variable Machine Beast'!"
An Equip Card materialized in Sanze's back row, and a golden protective aura enveloped one of the Gunner Dragons.
"When the equipped monster battles, it gains one Spell Counter, and its ATK increases by 500," Sanze said. "Furthermore, by removing a Spell Counter from this card, I can protect the equipped monster from being destroyed by battle or card effects!
Then, I enter the Battle Phase!"
Sanze waved his hand and directly declared an attack.
"With your Traps sealed, you can no longer counter my offensive! Just as I said, let's settle this within this turn, Number One!
First, 'Mathematician' attacks your face-down monster!"
The face-down monster flipped up, revealing a blonde female magician, squatting in defense position on the field with her staff cradled in her arms.
[Apprentice Magician, DEF 800]
A DEF of 800 was naturally not enough to block the attack. Mathematician waved the magic wand in its hand, but instead of a magical blast, it launched a long string of mathematical symbols and formulas, which swirled around the magician like mental pollution.
Apprentice Magician resisted with all her might, but in the end, she still seemed unable to withstand the power of mathematics. She clutched her head, screamed, and then exploded with a boom.
You Xuan could quite empathize with this.
Mathematics really was something that could make people explode on the spot.
"Effect of 'Apprentice Magician'," You Xuan said. "When this card is destroyed by battle, I can Special Summon one Level 2 or lower Spellcaster-Type monster from my Deck in face-down Defense Position."
He fanned out his Deck and drew a card from it.
"'Apprentice Magician' itself is a Level 2 or lower monster, so I Set a second 'Apprentice Magician' from my Deck face-down on the field."
"So it's a monster with a 'last will' effect! Then, Gunner Dragon Unit 1, attack the face-down Magician again!
At the same time, the effect of 'Guardian Power' equipped to Gunner Dragon activates!
Gunner Dragon's ATK increases by 500!"
[Gunner Dragon the Variable Machine Beast, ATK 2800 → ATK 3300]
Powerful cannon fire destroyed the second Magician, but of course, it also triggered its 'last will' effect.
"This time, I Set the Level 1 'Magician of Faith' from my Deck."
[Magician of Faith, DEF 400]
"Then, Gunner Dragon Unit 2, attack Magician of Faith!"
The face-down monster flipped up, revealing the petite Magician's true form. But at that instant, the staff in her hand swept lightly, and a shower of magical light spots fell into the Graveyard area of You Xuan's Duel Disk.
"At this moment, the monster effect of Magician of Faith activates. When this card is flipped, I can add one Spell Card from my Graveyard to my hand."
You Xuan drew a Spell Card that popped out from his Graveyard.
"I retrieve 'Graceful Charity' from my Graveyard."
Sanze: "You actually blocked everything..."
This way, only the Gunner Dragon whose ATK had dropped to 400 was left on his field without attacking. However, due to Shooting Star Bow - Ceal, this monster could attack directly anyway.
"The last 'Gunner Dragon the Variable Machine Beast' attacks directly!"
You Xuan closed his eyes lightly, standing straight and calmly taking the bombardment from the solid vision cannon fire.
[You Xuan, LP 3000 → LP 2600]
It was practically a tickle-level attack, more for venting frustration than actual damage.
"Then I activate the other effect of 'Wonder Wand', sending this card and the equipped monster to the Graveyard to draw two cards from my Deck.
I send 'Wonder Wand' and 'Mathematician' to the Graveyard and draw two cards!"
After drawing, he immediately played one of them.
"Spell Card 'Sacred Sword of Seven Stars'! Banish one Level 7 monster from my hand or field, then draw two cards!
I banish the Level 7 'Gunner Dragon the Variable Machine Beast' with 400 ATK from my field, and draw two more cards.
Then, I end my turn!"
You Xuan: "My turn, draw.
First, I activate the Spell Card 'Pot of Greed', drawing two cards from my Deck."
Then, You Xuan played the card Magician of Faith had retrieved from the Graveyard last turn.
"Spell Card 'Graceful Charity'! Pay 1000 Life Points, discard one card randomly from your hand, then your opponent chooses one card from their hand to discard."
[You Xuan, LP 2600 → LP 1600]
"For the randomly chosen card, let's discard the second one from the left," You Xuan said casually.
Dueling here was different from online; generally, "randomly choose one to discard" meant the opponent would randomly choose from face-down cards.
"You think it's impossible for me to have a second 'Graceful Charity' in my hand, right?"
Sanze discarded the card You Xuan specified into the Graveyard, then smiled confidently.
"Your guess is indeed correct.
However! The countermeasures I've prepared for you don't end there.
The second card discarded by 'Graceful Charity' is chosen by me, and the card I choose to discard is this one."
He revealed a Spell Card, then placed it in the Graveyard.
"I discard 'Electric Snake' from my hand! When this card is discarded by an opponent's card effect, I draw two cards from my Deck!"
You Xuan watched with interest.
Well, well, well, he even brought this kind of thing. And since he brought this, it means his Deck definitely has 'Jar of Avarice' too, he just might not have drawn it yet.
As expected of a main cast character; even stuffing in so many extra components, he doesn't have to worry about a brick hand.
Drawing two more cards, Sanze smiled confidently: "I told you, Number One, the countermeasures I've prepared are perfect. I have thoroughly researched and prepared for this duel."
You Xuan shrugged and smiled faintly: "Actually, I also knew you were prepared. I was just curious to see how you would respond."
"Oh? Still so composed? As expected of Number One," Sanze laughed. "Then let me see it, your dueling when you're truly serious."
"I've always been serious," You Xuan chuckled. "I activate the Spell Card 'Card Destruction'. Both players discard their entire hands, then draw the same number of cards from their Decks."
Both players discarded their hands and then drew. However, a card immediately popped out from You Xuan's Graveyard.
"Among the discarded cards was a Spell Card, 'Jar of Avarice'. When this card is sent from the hand to the Graveyard, draw two more cards from the Deck." (Anime card effect)
Sanze said no more, but he became even more focused. Although his opponent said so, Sanze still felt not a shred of nervousness from You Xuan.
It was as if his opponent didn't care at all about all his countermeasures so far, or the apparent advantages on the field.
But this, instead, made his duelist soul even more expectant.
"I will definitely make you get serious in this duel!"
"So, I said I wasn't holding back... But since you insist, then as promised, I'll let you see my main force.
I banish the LIGHT 'Magician of Faith' and the DARK 'Apprentice Magician' from my Graveyard to Special Summon!"
Sanze's expression changed slightly: "Banishing LIGHT and DARK attributes... this summoning condition, could it be...!?"
"Souls of Light and Darkness, offered upon the field of chaos, call forth the legendary warrior to descend here!"
The two magicians transformed into intersecting energies of light and darkness, surging into the roiling black clouds in mid-air, as if sinking into the yonder side of chaos. Then, a golden beam of light erupted from within, like a sword light cleaving chaos itself. A resplendent warrior in full armor, bathed in golden light, stepped onto the field.
"Heaven and Earth Sundered—
—Chaos Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, summon!"
[Chaos Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, ATK 3000]
The entire venue instantly erupted.
"M-m-mommy!" Professor Banner was so shocked he covered his face with his hands. "Chaos Soldier, you know!"
Asuka on the high platform also trembled in shock: "H-how could it be? Envoy of the Beginning, but isn't that—"
"The legendary ace monster from the King of Duels, Yugi Muto's, Deck."
Kaiser Ryo Marufuji from the academy was also shocked for a moment, but then his gaze towards the field became fervent.
His duelist soul began to stir.
Even he was finding it a little hard to resist the urge to duel that new student.
Naturally, a certain jellyfish-haired individual shared the same sentiment.
"Ooh, ooh, this is so cool! Chaos Soldier! It's Chaos Soldier!"
Judai frantically grabbed Sho Marufuji and shook him back and forth.
"I really want to duel You Xuan!"
"Big brother... you're going to choke me to death..." Sho Marufuji said with difficulty.
But at this moment, no one was probably more shocked than student Sanze, who was personally facing the pressure of the legendary warrior. He unconsciously took half a step back and said in astonishment, "Your ace monster is actually... this kind of monster?"
At this time, Sanze didn't realize that what he was facing was, in fact, a variation of the "Chaos" world champion deck that rampaged through the competitive scene in reality back then.
For a very long period at that time, Chaos was the absolute top tier, and all Yu-Gi-Oh! decks were classified into only two types: "Chaos" and "non-Chaos." You either got beaten down by the top tier, or you had to join them.
Including the "Apprentice Magician" and "Magician of Faith" duo that You Xuan used for defense last turn, they were also a commonly used golden pair in early Chaos decks.
These two cards happened to be one LIGHT and one DARK attribute. The DARK attribute Apprentice Magician's 'last will' effect had excellent defensive and blocking capabilities, while also being able to search the LIGHT attribute Magician of Faith from the Deck. And Magician of Faith, incidentally, also had the powerful ability to retrieve one Spell Card.
One must know that the early days of Yu-Gi-Oh! were rampant with all sorts of overpowered Spell Cards, many of which are now forbidden. The quality of a single card was far higher than that of regular monsters.
The Spell Card retrieved by Magician of Faith, whether it was the then-not-yet-banned Pot of Greed and Graceful Charity, the three overpowered hand destruction artifacts, or board-clearing Spell Cards like "Dark Hole" and "Heavy Storm," were all game-changing powerhouses.
And the defensive line formed by these two cards could, on the second turn, coincidentally gather the LIGHT and DARK summoning conditions in the Graveyard, allowing one to directly summon the deck's ace, Chaos Soldier, on their turn to secure victory.
"Monster effect of 'Chaos Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning'!" You Xuan declared. "Chaos Soldier can, at the cost of forfeiting its attack for this turn, banish one monster on the field!
Banish that 'Gunner Dragon the Variable Machine Beast' equipped with 'Guardian Power'!
Chaos Dimensional Slash!"
Chaos Soldier raised its longsword high, one side of the blade light, the other dark. A raging torrent of intermingled light and darkness surged forth, forming a two-toned vortex that shot towards the sky. The massive Gunner Dragon was powerless to resist; dimension itself shattered under that sword strike, and the heavy mecha was sucked into the yonder side of dimension.
"Ugh... Is Guardian Power helpless before the Envoy of the Beginning?" Sanze gritted his teeth.
Guardian Power had the excellent effect of protecting a monster from being destroyed by either battle or card effects, but it was powerless against being banished to a different dimension by a sword strike.
"Then, I banish the LIGHT attribute monster 'Shining Angel' that was discarded to the Graveyard last turn, and another DARK attribute 'Apprentice Magician' from my Graveyard!"
Sanze: "!"
This summoning condition again...
Don't tell me your Envoy of the Beginning has a Unit 2!?
That was, of course, impossible. However, though the big Envoy was gone, You Xuan still had the small Envoy in his hand.
"Sorcerer who commands the magic of Light and Dark, descend now—
—Chaos Sorcerer, summon!"
[Chaos Sorcerer, ATK 2300]
"Effect of Chaos Sorcerer activates! Once per turn, at the cost of forfeiting its own attack, banish one monster on the field.
Banish the last 'Gunner Dragon the Variable Machine Beast' as well!"
Chaos Sorcerer's palms swirled, and the magic of light and dark surged in his palms. A vortex of chaos erupted from beneath Gunner Dragon's feet. The heavy mecha was powerless to resist and dissipated within the magical vortex.
Sanze: "..."
You can't be serious, sir, another trip to a different dimension?
Manjoume, who had been beaten into a state of depression by student Judai outside the field, finally lifted his head at this moment, a slight gleam in his eyes.
He was familiar with this move.
This was the feeling! Banish, banish everything, banish it all for Laozi!
Freaking send everything to a different dimension!
"But at least this way, it can't attack this turn..." Sanze took a deep breath.
The big Envoy and the small Envoy had the same effect; they couldn't declare an attack in the turn their dimensional slash ability was used.
"That's not necessarily true," You Xuan interrupted.
Sanze: "!?"
"Indeed, the Envoy of the Beginning that used this effect cannot attack this turn, but that doesn't mean my offense has ended."
You Xuan revealed another card from his hand.
"Spell Card 'Metamorphosis'! Tribute one monster on your field; Special Summon one Fusion Monster from your Fusion Deck with the same Level as the Tributed monster!
I Tribute 'Chaos Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning'!"
Sanze: "!!!"
That's right, as long as he tributes the Chaos Soldier that has already activated its effect, he can continue to attack this turn!
Moreover, Chaos Soldier is Level 8, which means he can unconditionally summon a Level 8 Fusion behemoth to the field!
"Black dragon that has gained the power of meteors and calls forth victory, manifest with the power of molten lava—
—Level 8, Meteor Black Dragon, summon!!!"
The advanced Fusion form of Red-Eyes Black Dragon, obtained from the Dueling Club, a Dark giant dragon whose body seemed to flow with magma, spread its wings and descended upon the field!
[Meteor Black Dragon, ATK 3500]
Sanze's expression changed slightly: "To think... the legendary evolved form of Red-Eyes Black Dragon, summoned without needing Red-Eyes Black Dragon..."
Metamorphosis also appeared in GX and was one of Judai Yuki's frequently used Spell Cards. However, he usually used this card to evolve "Elemental HERO Bubbleman" into "Neo-Bubbleman."
In real-life competitive play, generally, no one did that.
The combination You Xuan was using now was one of the very common combos in top-tier decks back then. Chaos Soldier had extremely simple summoning conditions and could easily banish a monster to a different dimension. And Metamorphosis perfectly compensated for the side effect of not being able to attack after activating dimensional slash, while also easily swapping it for a Level 8 Fusion behemoth that might normally be very difficult to summon.
However, the Level 8 Fusion monster used by the world champion back then was usually "Cyber Twin Dragon," with 2800 ATK and capable of attacking twice per turn. After Chaos Soldier cleared the field, transforming into Cyber Twin Dragon could instantly deal 5600 points of violent damage.
But in this world, Cyber Twin Dragon was, as one might expect, in Kaiser's Deck. You Xuan hadn't seen it on the market yet. And after searching, he found that the easily obtainable Level 8 Fusions currently either had summoning restrictions or were very mediocre...
Although Meteor Black Dragon was a vanilla monster, it at least had a noble 3500 ATK, "ranking above Blue-Eyes and only below Obelisk," and more importantly, it was free.
"'Meteor Black Dragon' direct attack!"
Meteor Black Dragon opened its mouth, and a pillar of lava-like fire erupted, sweeping across Sanze.
"Ugh, ah!"
[Sanze, LP 4000 → LP 500]
His Life Points were instantly blasted to near zero. Sanze gritted his teeth and knelt on one knee, his body still emitting black smoke from the solid vision.
His behemoths were successively sent to a different dimension, and he took this heavy blow without any means of defense. Sanze suddenly had a faint realization.
His opponent might have considered the possibility of him using "Trap Seal" from the very beginning.
The combination of Chaos and dimensional slash, continuously banishing the opponent's monsters and launching strong attacks. Sanze's own monsters would be constantly kicked into a different dimension by disgusting effects, and because of his own "Royal Decree," he couldn't use Traps for defense...
In this situation, wasn't he the one being disgusted by the "Trap Seal"?