"Hayato, could he have thought of a way to break through?" Joey Wheeler asked, somewhat surprised and pleased. "With summoning new Monsters causing a Backlash, and the only Monster on his Field being the non-combative **Ojama King**, how is Hayato going to win this Duel?"
"Could he be planning to increase **Ojama King**'s ATK with Equip Cards?"
Honda thought of a possibility, but Bakura shook his head and denied it. "That's too difficult. Although he drew a large number of cards with the Effect of **Graceful Charity**, it's too difficult to strengthen **Ojama King**, which has 0 ATK, to a level that surpasses **Cyber Ogre**."
"No, it's not impossible," Kujaku Mai said, thinking of something and smiling. "Although it's an Evolved Form, don't forget, Hayato's **Ojama King** is still an **Ojama** Monster."
Kujaku Mai thought of this point, and Samejima, facing Hayato, thought of the same thing. 'Could it be that through that **Graceful Charity** he just played, Hayato drew the powerful Field Spell exclusive to the **Ojama** family—**Ojama Country**?'
'If ATK/DEF Swap happens, **Ojama King** would instantly become an incredibly Powerful Monster with **Blue-Eyes White Dragon**-level ATK, while my **Cyber Ogre**'s ATK would become only 1200 Points,' Samejima frowned, thinking calmly. 'However, even if the Attack goes through, it would only deal me 1800 Points of Damage. I should still be able to withstand it.'
But to everyone's surprise, as Hayato played the Card from his Hand, not only did the Field not change at all, but the massive **Ojama King** on his Field began to Disperse?
"Originally, I prepared this Card for Cards like **Magic Cylinder**, but I didn't expect it to be useful now," Hayato said, looking at Samejima's Monster Field which was now freed with the disappearance of **Ojama King**. "Because it's Level 6☆, this Monster's Tribute Summon requires one Tribute."
"Inheriting the Power of **Ojama King**, bring me Life and hope, come forth! **Substance Dragon**!"
**Ojama King** transformed into countless Light Points and fell to the ground. A strong Life Aura burst forth from underground, accompanied by a long cry. A flying Dragon with six wings on its back and a body resembling a wooden structure broke out of the earth and floated above Hayato's Field.
[Substance Dragon] [6☆/Light]
[Dragon Type/Effect]
[2400/2000]
"He actually chose to Summon a new Monster, and one with 2400 ATK?!" Seeing the new Monster appear, Joey Wheeler instead frowned. "Could that guy Hayato have forgotten about the existence of **Dark Cure**? After Summoning **Substance Dragon**, he's going to take a full 1200 Points of Damage."
A dark Light Cluster emerged from Hayato's Field and violently struck the confident-looking Hayato. However, after the Light Cluster touched him, his Life Points, which should have decreased, not only didn't go down but actually increased?!
[Hayato: 2100 LP → 3300 LP]
Seeing Samejima's puzzled Expression, Hayato explained, "**Substance Dragon** symbolizes the most primitive matter left over from the time of creation, a symbol of Life Force. As long as **Substance Dragon** exists on the Field, Effects that inflict Damage become Effects that recover Life Points."
"In other words, the existence of **Substance Dragon** is the opposite of the **Drug Induced Side Effect** that links with **Dark Cure**."
"One Card converts Life Force into Damage, while the other converts Damage into Life Points?" Samejima murmured, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Then, would you like to try Attacking, Hayato-kun?"
"Of course!" Hayato played a Card. "Equip Spell Card, **Megamorph**! If my Life Points are lower than my opponent's, the ATK of the Equip Monster can become double its original ATK!"
[Substance Dragon] [ATK 2400 → 4800]
"Then I'll flip my Set Card, **Cyber Shadow Gardna**!" Samejima revealed the Card that returned to his Spell/Trap Zone last Turn. "I'll Summon it to my Field again, and then because of the Effect of **Cyber Summon Blaster**, I'll deal you 300 Points of Damage!"
Lightning shot out, hitting Hayato precisely.
[Hayato: 3300 LP → 3000 LP]
"That's just insignificant Damage. I enter the Battle Phase!" Hayato looked at the **Substance Dragon** that had expanded in size on the Field. "**Substance Dragon** Attacks **Cyber Ogre**, Primal Return!"
Although it could bring Life and hope, **Substance Dragon** showed that it was also quite capable in Battle. With a shake of its huge wings, six emerald green energy rays locked onto **Cyber Ogre** from different directions and instantly engulfed it.
"Alright! With this, **Cyber Ogre** is defeated!" Joey Wheeler said excitedly. "And with a full 4800 ATK, Mr. Samejima will take 2900 Points of Damage in one go. This gives Hayato the advantage!"
But Kujaku Mai and Yugi simultaneously noticed something was off on the Field. Exchanging glances, they didn't explain the specific situation to Joey Wheeler, as the situation on the Field was still unclear.
Looking at the Smoke enveloping **Cyber Ogre**, and Samejima's Life Points which showed no fluctuation, Hayato knew the "no damage with smoke" rule well and held a Card in his Hand.
"That was a truly formidable Offensive. Just a moment ago, I was almost going to lose a large portion of my Life Points in one go." The Smoke gradually Dispersed, and accompanied by Samejima's explanation, the figure of **Cyber Ogre** stood unharmed, a mechanical Skull still in its mouth. By its appearance, it was clearly another **Cyber Ogre**?!
Lifting a Card from his Hand to show it, then Sending it to the Graveyard, Samejima explained, "I can Activate this Effect by Sending one **Cyber Ogre** from my Hand to the Graveyard. It negates one Battle involving a **Cyber Ogre** on the Field."
"Not only that, **Cyber Ogre** can also absorb the Power of its comrades. Until the end of the next Battle it conducts, its ATK increases by 2000 Points."
Swallowing the remains of its comrade that Samejima Discarded, **Cyber Ogre** moved its metal joints. The red light in its electronic eyes visibly brightened.
[Cyber Ogre] [ATK 1900 → 3900]
"Is this new Power brought by the **Graceful Charity** from earlier? It seems I'm not the only one who benefited from that Card." Drawing the Card in his Hand, Hayato didn't rush to play it but gently placed it on the Field, looking at Samejima opposite him.
"Using Machine Type Monsters that can be Special Summoned in large numbers to actively reduce the opponent's Life Points, countering Aggro Decks with the **Dark Cure** and **Drug Induced Side Effect** Combo, and then using **Cyber Ogre** to bait an Attack and counter in one move."
"As expected of the future Master of the Cyber Style, you have your own top-tier understanding of Dueling. This Dueling Style is probably already close to perfection."
"But Mr. Samejima, perfection means the limit!"
Material Dragon and Side Effect can be considered Duelist identification machines, testing the most basic understanding of Chains (although they don't form a Chain).
If Material Dragon's Effect is Chain Link 1, then Side Effect is Chain Link 2, and the final result is still a Damage Effect.
If Side Effect is Chain Link 1, then Material Dragon's Effect is Chain Link 2, and the final result is still a Damage Effect.
In other words, Samejima's Dark Cure became its original recovery Effect, while Cyber Summon Blaster is still a Damage Effect.
Also, thanks to reader 141221223123591 for the 100 Qidian Coin Tip, thank you.
(End of this chapter)