Chapter 471: Okay, This Time We're Playing the XYZ Deck
Pushing open the large gate of the "Cyber Style" Dojo and stepping inside, Hayato was greeted by an extremely spacious area.
Inside the Dojo, many people stood in neat formations, wearing wooden models resembling Duel Disks on their wrists, performing a Draw a Card pose in perfect unison.
"Draw!"
The shout in unison couldn't help but startle Hayato, who had just walked through the door.
Hayato's appearance also caught the attention of a white-haired old man standing at the front of the line. However, after merely looking Hayato up and down, he didn't spare him another glance. Instead, he addressed the queue in front of him, "Alright, today's morning practice ends here. Everyone is free to practice now, but don't slack off on your practice."
After saying this, the old man turned his head to look at Hayato again. "You, you're not here to join our Cyber Style, are you? Are you looking for that Kid Samejima?"
That Kid Samejima? I thought Samejima wasn't young anymore?
But looking at the old man's head of white hair, he truly had the qualification to call Samejima Iemitsu a "Kid".
Hayato nodded, just about to say something, when he heard the old man suddenly let out a cold snort, looking at Hayato with a cold expression. "Hmph, just as expected. The moment you walked in, I could feel that sharp Duelist's aura on you. But dealing with people like you who are Challenging a Dojo doesn't require that Kid Samejima to step forward!"
"Huh?" Hayato was taken aback. He was invited by Samejima as a guest, not to Challenge a Dojo. What exactly had this old man misunderstood? He immediately said, "No, I'm not—"
"You want to say you're not here for me? You think only by defeating Samejima, the Current Master/Instructor of Cyber Style, can you complete your conquest of the Cyber Style? Hmph!"
The old man's hand, which had been behind his back, finally moved to the front. A Duel Disk, as if prepared long ago, had been worn behind his back the entire time. "Standing before you is the Cyber Style Menkyo Kaiden, the Previous Master/Instructor! Take out your Deck and prepare to face the complete Suppression from the Cyber Style!"
Although he looked white-haired and old, the old man spoke with full vigor. The Apprentices, whom the old man had arranged for free practice earlier, didn't actually disperse. Instead, they gathered around Hayato and the old man, both to support the old man and to conveniently slack off and watch the excitement.
However, among the Apprentices watching the show, a blue-haired boy around ten years old looked at Hayato, who was bewildered and trying to explain something but was repeatedly interrupted by the old man. He felt that the other person looked very familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before.
"I already said, I'm not—"
"Don't look down on people, Kid!"
"I didn't, I just wanted to—"
"Then Duel!"
Repeatedly trying to explain, only to be interrupted again and again by this stubborn old man, even Hayato couldn't help but get a little angry.
Taking out his Deck and placing it in the Duel Disk, Hayato said through gritted teeth, "There's a limit to acting arrogant just because you're old, old man! Since you want to Duel so badly, I won't hold back at all. Don't blame me if you throw out your back!"
"Duel!"
Both Duel Disks were connected via KaibaCorp's mysterious black technology. However, the two beacons for the Virtual Projection System were not deployed. Instead, several Projection Devices extended from the seemingly ancient Dojo ceiling.
After all, Samejima had mentioned before that this was the newly established "Outer Gate" of the Cyber Style. Although the appearance looked very ancient, the new equipment wasn't lacking at all, and the Virtual Projection System was also configured.
Beside both players, virtual Life Point Counters lit up simultaneously.
[Hayato: 4000 LP, Hand 5]
[Previous Master/Instructor: 4000 LP, Hand 5]
With the scoreboards displayed, the theoretical next step should have been for Hayato and the Cyber Style Previous Master/Instructor to compete for the right to go first based on their speed.
However, surrounded by the watching Cyber Style Apprentices, Hayato and the Previous Master/Instructor, each holding five hand cards, didn't make a move. They just looked at each other, and the atmosphere became awkward.
The situation was quite awkward for a moment.
"Uh, you draw a card first?"
"No, you draw first."
"No, you first!"
"You draw first!"
Just moments ago, they had been full of tension, looking like they wanted to slam their Duel Monsters Cards onto the opponent's face. But when it came to the first turn right, both players unusually yielded to each other.
It wasn't that Hayato suddenly had the idea of respecting the elderly and cherishing the young. When dueling others, having the first turn right to draw a card is very beneficial. But if the opponent was Cyber Style, Hayato would rather go second turn.
Although there was Samejima, a non-typical Cyber Style Duelist, the main characteristics of Cyber Style, no matter how you looked at it, should be a beatdown style combining speed and ferocity.
In another world, there were two extremely malicious curses about duels involving Cyber Style Decks.
If you're playing Cyber Style, may you always go first turn;
If your opponent is Cyber Style, may you go first turn this time.
Taking the most classic example of Power Bond + three Cyber Dragon to Summon the invincible Cyber End Dragon with 8000 ATK and built-in piercing effect, if you weren't prepared beforehand and the opponent played another Limiter Removal to double the ATK again, even a meta deck could suffer defeat if they didn't have a countermeasure.
Of course, if Cyber Style's opponent was an Underworld Deck filled with red and green stall cards like Magic Cylinder, that would be another matter. But Hayato didn't think his Deck was that shady (playstyle), so he felt it was safer to let the opponent go first turn.
However, it was quite clear that his opponent thought the same way.
He even said it quite righteously: "Hmph, even for malicious guests who Challenge a Dojo, our Cyber Style Dojo still has the most basic etiquette. Stop being so hesitant and draw a card quickly."
In the old man's words, Hayato had become someone who didn't take the first turn right because he was timid and afraid to Duel. Since he had said that much, Hayato had no choice but to place his finger on his Deck. "In that case, my turn, draw!"
The card Hayato drew was the Trap Card Union Emergency Mobilization, a support card for the Union Monster Series, but practically a dedicated support card for the XYZ Deck.
For the first time in a while, Hayato took out his pure XYZ Deck to Duel. And his luck was pretty good; he had already drawn his key cards in the first turn.
"I activate Magic Card Terraforming! From my Deck, I add a card to my Hand! Then I activate the Field Spell Card I added to my Hand!"
Hayato held a card between two fingers and flicked it downwards with an arrogant motion. The card was perfectly sent into the opened Field Spell Zone on his Duel Disk. "Since my opponent is the Machine Type Cyber Dragon, then to deal with you, it's better to use XYZ, which is also Machine Type, right?"
"Heroes have their stage to battle on, and mechanical constructs naturally have their maintenance workshop! Field Spell Card Union Hangar activate!"
As Hayato activated his Field Spell Card, a giant mechanical pillar rose from the Open Space behind Hayato. The pillar had multiple segments that seemed to rotate independently, and each segment was connected to a container holding something. Counting them, there were a total of eight containers, labeled with the letters "A", "B", "C", "V", "W", "X", "Y", and "Z".
The old man opposite Hayato saw the pillar rising behind Hayato and found it strange. "What's with these letters? And where did D through U go?"
"Yeah, why is that? I'm also looking for the answer to that question," Hayato said perfunctorily, placing his hand on the side of his Deck and catching the card that was automatically searched and ejected from the Deck. "According to the Effect of Union Hangar when it's Activated, once per Turn, if a Machine Type, LIGHT Attribute Union Monster is Summoned or Special Summoned to my Field, I can choose a Machine Type, LIGHT Attribute Union Monster from my Deck with a different Card Name that can be Equipped to that Monster, and Equip it to that Monster."
"The monster I choose is A - Assault Core."
"And I normal summon it to the Field in Attack Position!"
As the monster card in Hayato's hand was summoned to the Field, the top layer of the tall mechanical pillar behind him began to rotate. The container labeled with the letter "A" moved above Hayato as the pillar rotated.
The container's hatch opened, and a yellow tank detached from the container, landing steadily on Hayato's Field using the thrusters beneath its treads. Its beam emitter, shaped like a scorpion's tail stinger, aimed in the direction of the Cyber Style Previous Master/Instructor.
[A - Assault Core]
[Machine Type/Union/Effect]
[1900/200]
"It's a level 4 monster, but its ATK is already 1900 points, and it's also a Union Monster. Is it the same type as XYZ?"
The Cyber Style Previous Master/Instructor frowned as he looked at A - Assault Core. A monster with 1900 ATK wasn't something he would pay too much attention to, after all, Cyber Style was rarely afraid of anyone when it came to ATK boosting. What truly made him serious was the appearance of another purple Wyvern that landed on Hayato's Field along with the debut of A - Assault Core.
The container labeled "C" had opened simultaneously with the container labeled "A". This purple Wyvern flew out from that container, and as soon as it landed, the purple mechanical construct disassembled itself into several parts and attached itself to A - Assault Core.
Although both Hayato and Kaiba used the XYZ set of Union Monsters, this set of Union Monsters wasn't particularly rare. It wasn't cheap enough to be 50 Yen a card, but many Duelists whose archetypes could accommodate this set of Monsters included them in their Decks to fill space. Therefore, the Cyber Style Previous Master/Instructor had also seen this type of Union Monster.
The connection between the purple Wyvern and the yellow tank before him certainly looked like the battle position of a Union Monster. However, even though the purple Wyvern was equipped to A - Assault Core as an equip monster, its ATK didn't show any change.
"The Effect of Union Hangar is, once per Turn, when a Machine Type, LIGHT Attribute Union Monster is Summoned or Special Summoned to my Field, I can choose a Machine Type, LIGHT Attribute Union Monster from my Deck with a different Card Name that can be Equipped to that Monster, and Equip it to that Monster."
Hayato began to explain. "What I chose is C - Crush Wyvern, which has a different Card Name from A - Assault Core. However, although C - Crush Wyvern itself has the Ability to Special Summon itself by entering the Unequipped State, due to the Influence of Union Hangar, C - Crush Wyvern equipped to A - Assault Core by its Effect cannot be Special Summoned this Turn."
"Additionally, although it cannot Increase the Equipped Monster's ATK/DEF like other Union Monsters, C - Crush Wyvern Grants the Monster it's equipped to the Ability to not be affected by the Opponent's Trap Card Effects."
"Hmph, it's just a monster with 1900 ATK. If it can't be affected by Trap Effects, why not just destroy it directly with battle?" the Previous Master/Instructor said dismissively.
Hayato smiled and displayed a card from his Hand. "I never said my turn was over. On the contrary, my operation this turn has just begun. Without fully preparing the complete set of mechanical equipment, they cannot unleash their full strength."
"Continuous Spell Card Frontline Base activate, and apply its effect! Once per Turn, I can Special Summon a Union Monster directly from my Hand!"
Watching the card Hayato activated, the Cyber Style Previous Master/Instructor's pupil constricted, because he knew Hayato's plan.
"ABC, similar to XYZ? It took me until now to realize this. My thinking is indeed a bit slow."
"A - Assault Core, C - Crush Wyvern, then the next to appear will be B, right?"
Just as the Cyber Style Previous Master/Instructor thought, as Hayato activated Frontline Base, the container labeled "B", sandwiched between "A" and "C" on the tall mechanical pillar behind him, began to move. A green raptor carrying a pair of back cannons leaped high and landed on Hayato's Field.
[B - Buster Drake]
[Machine Type/Union/Effect]
[1500/1800]
"At this moment, I have assembled A - Assault Core, B - Buster Drake, and C - Crush Wyvern on my Field! The party begins now!" Hayato shouted, raising his arm. "Polymerization is completely unnecessary! Let my opponent witness the ultimate machine!"
"Banish all A, B, and C from my Field from play! Special Summon ABC - Dragon Buster!"
Similar to C - Crush Wyvern earlier, B - Buster Drake's body was also disassembled and fully loaded onto A - Assault Core as a mobile platform. ABC - Dragon Buster, which once sparked the outrageous claim "Even my grandma can play Yu-Gi-Oh!" in another world, made its appearance!
[ABC - Dragon Buster]
[Machine Type/Fusion/Effect]
[3000/2800]
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 472: This Is No Longer Your Business
As everyone knows, as the protagonist and true heroine (?) of *Yu-Gi-Oh! DM*, Mutou Yuugi, or rather, Yugi Mutou, primarily uses a Trap-Heavy Deck.
Summon? Negated. Field Setup? Negated. Card Draw? Negated. Direct Attack? So strong, too strong! I activate Magic Cylinder.
However, although his Deck is filled with all sorts of red and green cards, Yugi Mutou actually has a few iconic Ace Monsters. Among them is the Magnet Warrior Deck, which, similar to XYZ, is also based on three-part combinations.
And the Boss Monsters of the Magnet Warrior series, Valkyrion the Magna Warrior and Electromagnet Warrior Magnet Valkyrion, have an effect that makes them incredibly resilient. Even if they are Destroyed, they can Revive by Summoning the Component Monsters that make them up, and can even Combine again to Revive in the next Turn.
The ABC-Dragon Buster that Hayato Summoned also possesses a similar Ability, and is even more potent than the Magnet Warrior.
[ABC-Dragon Buster]
[Effect: ① Once per Turn, you can Discard a card from hand, then Target 1 card on the Field; Banish that card. This Effect can be Activated during your Opponent's Turn.
② During your Opponent's Turn, you can Tribute this card, then Target 3 of your Banished LIGHT Machine Type Union Monsters; Special Summon those monsters.]
Not only can it Banish a Key Card on the Field once per Turn during the Opponent's Turn to disrupt their plays, but if the Opponent wants to Counterattack, ABC-Dragon Buster can also utilize its second Effect to Disassemble and Escape, dodging Effects. It's the standard "only I can hit you, you can't hit me" style.
After Summoning ABC-Dragon Buster, Hayato glanced at his Hand. After a series of Operations, he still had three cards left. Hayato only kept one card in Hand to use as the Cost for ABC-Dragon Buster's Effect next Turn, Setting the other two cards.
"I Set two cards from my Hand. My Turn ends."
[Hayato: 4000 LP, Hand 1]
[ABC-Dragon Buster] [ATK 3000]
[Frontline Base] [Set Card] X2
Field: [Union Hangar]
"A Monster with 3000 ATK, and you've also Set two Trap Cards for Defense," the Former Cyber Style Master said with a frown. "As someone Challenging a Dojo, your Strength is quite high."
"I told you I'm not—"
"But the Cyber Style is much stronger than you imagine. A mere 3000 ATK is something I can easily Surpass!"
Although Hayato tried to Clarify again, the stubborn old man interrupted him once more, Talking to himself.
"My Turn, Draw!" Drawing a Card from his Deck, the Previous Master/Instructor saw the card he Drew, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. He immediately played the card he Drew.
"First, I Activate the Spell Card Pot of Greed, allowing me to Draw two cards from my Deck."
"Then I Activate the Continuous Spell Card Future Fusion, which I just Drew. As the name suggests, this card allows monsters to be Fusion Summoned in the future. I choose my Fusion Monster Cyber End Dragon for you to Confirm, and then Send the three Cyber Dragon from my Deck that are Material for Cyber End Dragon to the Graveyard!"
Because his Duel Disk didn't have the Black Technology for automatic Deck Search like Hayato's, the Previous Master/Instructor could only Search for the Cyber Dragon in his Deck one by one and then Send them to the Graveyard.
While Searching, he looked at Hayato: "Since you have the Courage to Challenge the Cyber Style Dojo, you should also Know the Ultimate Technique of the Cyber Style—the Power of Cyber End Dragon."
"Because of Future Fusion's Effect, Cyber End Dragon will appear on my Field next Turn. However, if you think you can escape this way, you are greatly mistaken, because I will Fusion Summon a monster using 'Cyber Dragon' as material in this Turn!"
The Previous Master/Instructor Drew a Card from his Hand and inserted it into the Spell & Trap Zone. As the card was inserted, the Phantom of the three Cyber Dragon that had just been Sent to the Graveyard Manifested behind him and then Dispersed into Particles.
"This Effect, could it be..."
Hayato also has a Cyber Dragon Deck, so he naturally knows the "Three Axes" commonly used for Cyber Dragon Fusion: Power Bond for Hand Fusion, Cyberload Fusion for Banished Zone Fusion, and Fusion from the Graveyard—
"I Activate the Spell Card Overload Fusion! This card allows me to select Fusion Material required for a Machine Type DARK Attribute Fusion Monster from my Field or Graveyard, Banish them, and Fusion Summon that Fusion Monster!"
"The Fusion Material are all three Cyber Dragon! I Banish all of them, and then Summon Chimeratech Rampage Dragon!"
After the figures of the three Cyber Dragon Dispersed beside the Previous Master/Instructor, ominous and dangerous red Electric Currents began to flash among the silver light Particles that filled the air. Accompanied by a mechanical hum, a mechanical long Dragon with three branching heads was now coiled beside the Previous Master/Instructor!
[Chimeratech Rampage Dragon] [5☆/DARK]
[Machine Type/Fusion/Effect]
[2100/1600]
Looking at this Machine Type Fusion Monster Summoned by the Previous Master/Instructor, which was similar yet vastly different from the usual Cyber Dragon, the surrounding Disciples couldn't help but exclaim: "So, so cool!"
"It's a completely different Style from Cyber End Dragon, but still so cool!"
"And it's DARK Attribute! Three LIGHT Attribute Cyber Dragon fused into a DARK Attribute Fusion Monster, and its ATK/DEF and even Level are the same?"
After Summoning Chimeratech Rampage Dragon, the Previous Master/Instructor saw that the Apprentices were curious about this DARK Attribute "Cyber Style" monster that wasn't included in the usual Cyber Style Curriculum, and took the opportunity to promote it.
"Many people know the 'Cyber Style's' Cyber Dragon, and know that Cyber Dragon's Fusion form, Cyber End Dragon, is the Proof of the collection of all 'Cyber Style' Techniques. Obtaining Cyber End Dragon means you have Mastered all the Techniques of the 'Cyber Style'."
He Paused, then changed the subject, "But!"
"Cyber End Dragon represents the Perfection of the 'Cyber Style', but it is not the Limit of the 'Cyber Style'. The evolution of the 'Cyber Style' is infinite and without end!"
"Let me use this Duel to Defeat the Challenger and show you a corner of that Infinite Peak!"
After speaking, the Previous Master/Instructor turned back to the Field and pointed a Finger towards Hayato: "In front of the 'Cyber Style', everything is Fair and Square. First, I will Destroy those Troublesome Spell and Trap Cards of yours."
"When Chimeratech Rampage Dragon is successfully Fusion Summoned, I can Target Spell/Trap Cards on the Field up to the number of Fusion Material used for Chimeratech Rampage Dragon, and Destroy them," the Previous Master/Instructor extended three Fingers. "I used three Cyber Dragon as Fusion Material, so I can Destroy your two Set Cards in the Spell/Trap Zone and your Field Spell Card!"
"Go, Chimeratech Rampage Dragon, Overload Charge Impact!"
As the Former Cyber Style Master designated the cards to be Destroyed, each of Chimeratech Rampage Dragon's three heads gathered an orange Lightning and spat them out simultaneously. Like a hot knife through Butter, the three beams of Lightning sliced through the Set Cards on Hayato's Field and the pillars of Union Hangar behind him, Destroying them all.
"Boom!"
Amidst the explosion's fire, the Previous Master/Instructor heard a voice from Hayato's side: "Instead of accumulating Power, you chose to prioritize clearing my dangerous Set Cards. If Pharaoh were as cautious as you, he wouldn't always step straight into Yugi's Traps."
"But you know, having my Set Cards Destroyed isn't necessarily a bad thing for me."
As Hayato's words fell, a red light suddenly shot out from the smoke of the explosion. It bypassed the obstructing Chimeratech Rampage Dragon and directly struck the Previous Master/Instructor, pushing him back several steps, and his Life Points decreased accordingly.
[Previous Master/Instructor: 4000 LP → 3000 LP]
Clutching his chest where the red light had just hit him, the Previous Master/Instructor couldn't understand why his Life Points had suddenly dropped by a full 1000 LP when he had only Destroyed two Set Cards.
After the quickly dissipating smoke, the card Hayato held between his Fingers gave him the answer.
"Blast Held by a Tribute. It deals 1000 Damage to the Player who Destroyed this card. It might not be very useful against reckless Duelists who play entirely by Feeling and don't look at others' Set Cards, but it's Most Suitable for dealing with overly cautious guys who are good at overthinking."
As he spoke, Hayato Sent Blast Held by a Tribute, along with the simultaneously Destroyed Union Scramble and Union Hangar, to the Graveyard.
"Hmph, it's just a mere 1000 Points. As long as I finish you off in this Turn, it's just a slight loss," the Previous Master/Instructor said Proudly. "Chimeratech Rampage Dragon's second Effect is that it can Send up to two Machine Type LIGHT Attribute monsters from the Deck to the Graveyard."
"Then, Chimeratech Rampage Dragon can make additional attacks equal to the number of monsters sent to the Graveyard, in addition to its Normal Attack! I Send two Proto-Cyber Dragon from my Deck to the Graveyard, Granting my Chimeratech Rampage Dragon the Ability to Attack three times this Turn!"
As the Previous Master/Instructor Sent the two Searched Proto-Cyber Dragon to the Graveyard, the eyes of Chimeratech Rampage Dragon's three heads on his Field all lit up with dangerous red light, seemingly ready to Attack Hayato.
"Heh heh, Weak, Weak, Weak. Even if it can Attack three times, what can it do? A piece of tofu attacking three times can't pierce a hard Griddle. Don't forget your Chimeratech Rampage Dragon only has 2100 ATK. Do you dare defy me, who possesses ABC-Dragon Buster with 3000 ATK?"
Hayato didn't think a Triple Attack with only 2100 ATK was anything to Fear. If it were Chimeratech Overdragon's Fatal Five Consecutive Hits with 4000 ATK, that would be more terrifying.
Hearing Hayato's standard Antagonist speech, the Previous Master/Instructor's mouth curved into a smile, and he Drew a Card from his Hand: "In that case, what about adding this card?"
Only then did Hayato notice that although the opponent had completed the Milling, Fusion, and Field Clear operations, the old man had actually only played two cards from his Hand. He still had a full five cards in his Hand that he hadn't used.
And now, he played a Powerful Card that is practically essential for ATK boosting Cyber Dragon Decks.
"Quick-Play Spell Card, Limiter Removal, Activate!"
That's right, the card the Former Cyber Style Master Activated at this moment was Limiter Removal, which can be Activated without any prerequisites and simply and Brutally Doubles Attack Power from the start. 1000 becomes 2000, 2000 becomes 4000, 4000 becomes 8000, and 8000 can even become 16000.
"Limiter Removal's Effect is that the ATK of all Machine Type monsters on my Field is Doubled. That means your supposedly Weak Chimeratech Rampage Dragon's 2100 ATK will become 4200, surpassing the 4000 ATK of the legendary God Card, Obelisk the Tormentor."
The Previous Master/Instructor said Proudly, "Can you still be as Composed as before, Kid?"
"4200 ATK, and it can Attack three times. Indeed, at this level, it can't be called Weak. After All, Kaiba's Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon is only a Triple Attack with 4500 ATK."
Hayato nodded and continued, "But even so, Powerful Cards come with Risk. Machine Type monsters' inherent power output is optimized. If you overload them by lifting the limit, Chimeratech Rampage Dragon, having applied Limiter Removal's Effect, will also be Destroyed at the end of your Turn."
"Heh heh, it doesn't matter. As long as I finish you off this Turn, it's fine. Anyway, rather than sustained ordinariness, I prefer Instant Radiance," the Previous Master/Instructor laughed wildly, not at all like an old man, but rather like a hot-blooded young man.
"Is that so..." Hayato also smiled upon hearing this. "In that case, let me add a little more to your 'Radiance'."
"Hmm?" Hayato's words were a bit difficult to understand, but seeing ABC-Dragon Buster open its Laser Cannon Barrel and Rocket Pod as Hayato Sent a Card from his Hand to the Graveyard, the Former Cyber Style Master had an ominous premonition.
"Once per Turn, ABC-Dragon Buster can Activate its Effect by Discarding a card from my Hand, Targeting one card on the Field, and Banishing that card. And this Effect can be Activated during the Opponent's Turn."
Hayato said sarcastically, "A Triple Attack with 4200 ATK, so strong, too strong. But rather than being Destroyed by Limiter Removal's Effect, I'll use ABC-Dragon Buster's Effect to Banish you!"
The Previous Master/Instructor understood Hayato's Plan. This guy was waiting for him to commit enough Resources to strengthen Chimeratech Rampage Dragon, and then Banish it when its Power reached its Peak.
How could someone Duel in such an Annoying way? NMD, WSM?
"You, you guy!"
"No need to thank me. You cleared my Spell/Trap Zone, I'll take care of your Boss Monster. This is what's called Tit for Tat," Hayato snapped his Fingers. "Go, ABC-Dragon Buster, Chimeratech Rampage Dragon's business here is finished. Let it go guard the pond!"
"Moment of Demise!"
In 2016, the biggest Impression for many Duelists was still Zoodiac, but ABC's Radiance, which came out a few months before Zoodiac, was indeed overshadowed by Zoodiac.
It's not that ABC wasn't strong; I personally feel that ABC's greater significance was showing Kaiku Corporation the sweet spot: the sweet spot of "extremely small System + Low Cost Field Setup → Brutal Suppression + Heavy Backrow + Sustainability".
Small System: The Archetype itself only has 12 cards, and even with a full set of Photon Thrasher, it's only 20 cards. Among these, you only need to use five specific cards to perform a standard combo, leaving the remaining 20 card slots for Card Filtering and Counter Cards.
Low Cost Field Setup: Field Spell plus Photon Thrasher/Galaxy Soldier is a two-card combo to bring out ABC + Rank 4. It comes with Search and has a high Success Rate.
Brutal Suppression: Quick Effect Banish.
Heavy Backrow: Set cards, besides destroying traps, include Solemn Judgment and Skill Drain that make your blood pressure soar.
Sustainability: ABC comes with Escape and Trade 1 for 3, the Field Spell can also generate advantage, and the Graveyard Components can be Searched again.
Before ABC, even Yang Zing, Shaddoll, Prophecy, etc., didn't achieve "small System + Low Cost Field Setup". Only a peak era Masked HERO was similar, but Masked HERO was born at the wrong time and encountered a bunch of monsters. The Power of this model wasn't fully realized until ABC.
After ABC, came Zoodiac, which developed this "extremely small System + Low Cost Field Setup" to its extreme.
A 13-15 card Archetype small System, Low Cost one-card Field Setup, Drident's Quick Effect Card Destruction, plenty of slots for Hand Traps and Trap-Heavy Deck, and the incredible Sustainability of Broadbull.
If ABC was the Mature Form, Zoodiac was the Perfected Form.
This was an important Link in the development of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Meta, serving as Preparation for the popularity of Hybrid Decks.
End of Chapter
Chapter 473 Dismantle - Emergency Egress
On the ABC-Dragon Buster, the two heads of B-Buster Drake and C-Crush Wyvern mounted on A-Assault Core moved aside, allowing the Laser Cannon Barrel and Rocket Pod underneath to aim unobstructed at Chimeratech Rampage Dragon.
As Hayato's Hand was sent to the Graveyard, two scorching laser beams shot out fiercely from the Laser Cannon Barrel, instantly piercing the core of the incredibly imposing Chimeratech Rampage Dragon, which had just had its ATK boosted by Limiter Removal.
On the three dragon heads of Chimeratech Rampage Dragon, the eye monitors, which were just incredibly crimson, instantly dimmed. Then, in the next moment, to prevent future trouble, dense rockets enveloped Chimeratech Rampage Dragon's entire body within the bombing range, completely crushing and banishing it.
"The Chimeratech Rampage Dragon with 4200 ATK was actually...!?"
"Where did this guy come from? So strong!"
"This is dangerous now..."
The surrounding Apprentices were previously amazed by the power of Chimeratech Rampage Dragon, but they never expected that the Previous Master/Instructor had just activated Limiter Removal, and the Chimeratech Rampage Dragon, whose ATK was doubled to a terrifying 4200 points, was banished by ABC-Dragon Buster the next second. They couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.
"Because I just discarded a card and sent it to the Graveyard, the effect of Ojama Magic activates when it is sent to the Graveyard from the Field or Hand. I can search my Deck for Ojama Yellow, Ojama Black, and Ojama Green and add them to my Hand."
The last card in Hayato's Hand was Ojama Magic. It has the effect that when sent to the Graveyard, it can search three cards from the Deck at once. Although the three cards searched are all useless small fry, they are perfect to use as the cost for ABC-Dragon Buster's effect.
"Ojama? I remember that's the Deck whose main combat strategy is to interfere with the opponent's strategy, and all its monsters seem to have 0 ATK. However, it's a good idea to think of using monsters with no attack power to support your Deck."
Although Chimeratech Rampage Dragon was banished, the Previous Master/Instructor only showed a moment of shock when he first heard the effect of ABC-Dragon Buster. Afterwards, he regained his composure and even calmly commented on Hayato's recent play.
Looking at him, it seems he still has other means?
Hayato couldn't help but look at his hand. The opponent hadn't performed a Normal Summon this turn, and still had a full four cards in hand. Theoretically, there was indeed a possibility for further plays.
But even though he had just adopted a stance of going all-in to decide the victory or defeat with Chimeratech Rampage Dragon, did the opponent really still have cards that could be used for battle?
Answering Hayato was the Former Cyber Style Master, who drew three cards from his hand at once: two Monster Cards, and one green Spell Card, Polymerization.
"Let me repeat myself. The 'Cyber Style' has no limit. The path of Fusion's evolution leads to an infinite future." The Previous Master/Instructor placed Polymerization in the Spell & Trap Zone, holding up the two Monster Cards in his hand. "Young man, banishing just one monster cannot stop me from winning this duel this turn!"
"Your ABC-Dragon Buster's effect to banish a monster can only be used once per turn, right? So how will you deal with this monster!?"
"Activate the Polymerization Spell Card! From my hand, I will use two Cyber Ogre as Fusion Material to Fusion Summon Cyber Ogre 2!"
The vortex of Polymerization appeared on the Previous Master/Instructor's Field, swallowing the two Cyber Ogre from his hand. The black steel Machine Monsters merged and combined two by two, Fusing into a giant monster standing on just two arms, dragging a long tail!
[Cyber Ogre 2] [Level 7/EARTH]
[Machine Type/Fusion/Effect]
[2600/1900]
Cyber Ogre 2, whose arms alone were as thick as a person, stood before the Former Cyber Style Master. He proudly introduced it: "After every 'Cyber Style' Apprentice cultivates to the 'Okuiri' stage, they can obtain the 'Cyber Style' Symbol Card, Cyber Dragon, as a symbol of legacy."
"But don't think the 'Cyber Style' only has Cyber Dragon!"
"When Cyber Ogre 2 engages in battle, its ATK increases by half the opponent's ATK value. Even against Five-Headed Dragon with 5000 ATK, Cyber Ogre 2 can surpass it!"
The rank division used in "Cyber Style" is the same as the traditional Kendo divisions. Kendo ranks are divided into "Initiation", "Okuiri", "Kirigami", and "Mokuroku", while "Cyber Style" is similar: "Initiation", "Okuiri", "Menkyo", and "Kaiden".
Among these, newly initiated Apprentices are at the "Initiation" level. After some cultivation, obtaining Cyber Dragon serves as proof of "Okuiri". The "Menkyo" level means one has basically mastered all the techniques of "Cyber Style", and Cyber End Dragon is the proof of the "Kaiden" level, meaning one has fully integrated "Cyber Style".
During the Duelist Kingdom era, Samejima was at the "Menkyo" level. Although he possessed "Cyber Style" characteristic cards like Cyber Dragon, he couldn't temporarily advance to "Kaiden" due to the Previous Master/Instructor's test. He only advanced to "Kaiden" after the Duelist Kingdom match ended, and subsequently took over as the current Master/Instructor of "Cyber Style".
It's worth mentioning that Samejima Iemitsu also seems to use Cyber Ogre cards, just like the Former Cyber Style Master.
"What a troublesome effect. It increases during battle, not just when attacking?" Hayato couldn't help but frown.
As is well known, the K language is vast and profound. Often, changing just one word or character can bring about huge changes. "When attacking", "When attacked", and "When battling" represent different meanings.
In the real card game, Cyber Ogre 2's effect is to increase ATK when attacking, meaning this effect only applies when it actively initiates an attack. It's not very powerful, only having some offensive capability.
But the Cyber Ogre 2 used by the Former Cyber Style Master clearly belongs to the anime version effect. Whether attacking or being attacked, as long as Cyber Ogre 2 is involved in battle, he can directly increase the other monster's ATK by half its value. Even when used defensively, it has some field presence capability.
The best way to deal with such a monster is clearly to directly destroy or banish Cyber Ogre 2 through an effect. However, Hayato's ABC-Dragon Buster's effect to banish a card has a restriction of once per turn, and it was just used on Chimeratech Rampage Dragon.
Seeing Hayato frown tightly, the Previous Master/Instructor revealed a smile. "Heh heh, you're still far from defeating 'Cyber Style'. Although this is the first time I've seen that ABC-Dragon Buster, its name is so close to XYZ-Dragon Cannon that even without any evidence, my intuition told me it must have a similar effect."
"And sure enough, the effect to banish a card by discarding a card in hand once per turn, although not as potent as XYZ-Dragon Cannon's effect which can be activated as long as you have hand cards, it has the ability to be activated during the opponent's turn, which even surprised me."
"At the beginning, I could have actually Summoned Cyber Ogre 2 and then used more Fusion Material to Fusion Summon the more powerful Chimeratech Rampage Dragon. However, out of caution, I Summoned Chimeratech Rampage Dragon first before Summoning Cyber Ogre 2. It seems I'm still sharp."
Just as Hayato waited until the Former Cyber Style Master invested certain resources into Chimeratech Rampage Dragon before banishing it, the Previous Master/Instructor was actually waiting for Hayato to reveal his next move before unhurriedly unleashing Cyber Ogre 2, this big move.
Although Hayato's ABC-Dragon Buster's ATK is currently 400 points higher than Cyber Ogre 2, in front of Cyber Ogre 2 which can increase its own ATK, this slight gap will be surpassed immediately.
"Alright, let's enter my Battle Phase! I will use Cyber Ogre 2 to attack your ABC-Dragon Buster!" The Previous Master/Instructor swung his arm. "Absorb the opponent's power and turn it into your divine might, Cyber Ogre 2!"
"Super Electromagnetic Shock!"
Although it only had two overly thick arms for movement, Cyber Ogre 2's attack speed was quite astonishing. As Cyber Ogre 2 approached, ABC-Dragon Buster was just about to attack, but was surprised to find that a portion of its ATK had been stolen!
[ABC-Dragon Buster] [ATK 3000]
[Cyber Ogre 2] [ATK 2600→4100]
A complete reversal!
Seeing Cyber Ogre 2's thick arms about to grab ABC-Dragon Buster's body, Hayato didn't doubt for a moment whether its power output could destroy ABC-Dragon Buster. Not wanting his monster to be destroyed like this, Hayato immediately ordered: "You forced my hand. I didn't originally plan to use this move."
"Activate ABC-Dragon Buster's second effect—"
"A second effect!?" The Previous Master/Instructor was somewhat surprised, as he never expected ABC-Dragon Buster to have other abilities.
Its Summoning Condition is excessively simple. Although it's a Fusion Monster, it doesn't even require the Polymerization Spell Card; it can be Summoned simply by Banishing three Fusion Materials from the Field or Graveyard. Furthermore, it has excellent stats with 3000 ATK and 2800 DEF, and even a powerful effect to banish cards that can be used during the opponent's turn.
And now it even has other effects? You can't print fake cards like this, can you?
The Previous Master/Instructor glanced at the last card in his hand, planning to first see what effect Hayato was going to use before deciding whether to activate his own card.
Is it to increase ATK, or an ability to banish cards similar to the first effect? But even so, it doesn't matter. The card in his hand can save his monster, but the next turn will be difficult to endure.
The Previous Master/Instructor recalled many powerful effects. And under his wary gaze, ABC-Dragon Buster's body suddenly disassembled!?
"Second effect, Dismantle - Emergency Egress!"
Hayato stood with his hands on his hips, looking smug. "It would be too much of a waste if the ABC-Dragon Buster I worked so hard to Summon was destroyed by you like this. Rather than that, I might as well disassemble them directly."
"During the opponent's turn, ABC-Dragon Buster can voluntarily Tribute itself, and then Special Summon the three LIGHT Attribute Machine Type Union Monsters I have Banished back to my Field." Hayato said, sending the ABC-Dragon Buster card to the Graveyard, then taking out three cards he had previously Banished from his pocket. "Come back, A-Assault Core, B-Buster Drake, and C-Crush Wyvern!"
[A-Assault Core] [DEF 200]
[B-Buster Drake] [DEF 1800]
[C-Crush Wyvern] [DEF 2000]
Looking at the three monsters in Defense Position in front of him, Hayato felt a bit of regret. If his Field Union Hangar was still on the Field, the Special Summon of the Union Monsters could have triggered the Field Spell Card's effect, letting him gain another card. Unfortunately, he couldn't change that.
The Previous Master/Instructor's mood was hard to describe with words right now. He had just prepared to face some terrifying enemy, and then suddenly he was told the opponent chose to escape?
"An ability to Tribute itself and return Fusion Material to the Field? How troublesome and disgusting. But because ABC-Dragon Buster disappeared from the Field, it triggered a Battle Replay, so my Cyber Ogre 2 can choose a new target."
The Previous Master/Instructor looked at C-Crush Wyvern, which had the highest DEF on Hayato's Field, and waved his hand, ordering: "Attack again, Cyber Ogre 2! Attack C-Crush Wyvern! Super Electromagnetic Shock!"
C-Crush Wyvern in Defense Position had a DEF of 2000 points, but it had no resistance before Cyber Ogre 2, which had 2600 ATK and increased to 3200 points after absorbing power from C-Crush Wyvern. It was instantly destroyed and sent to the Graveyard. However, because it was in Defense Position, it dealt no Battle Damage to Hayato.
Although C-Crush Wyvern has an effect that can be activated when it is sent to the Graveyard from the Field, "Special Summon a Union Monster from your Hand", unfortunately, Hayato currently only has three small fry in his hand, and no Union Monsters that can be Special Summoned.
"Set one card, I end my turn." The only Cyber Ogre 2 on the Field had already attacked. The Previous Master/Instructor glanced at the De-Fusion in his hand, choosing not to activate it, but instead Set it on the Field.
If he activated this card's effect now, it would only Special Summon the two Cyber Ogre from the Graveyard to the Field and then destroy two of the opponent's monsters in Defense Position. It wouldn't inflict any Battle Damage to that guy on the other side.
It's better to keep it for now and activate it depending on the situation. Let Cyber Ogre 2, which is basically immune to battle destruction, maintain field presence first. If the opponent activates an effect similar to the previous ABC-Dragon Buster, that way he can still use De-Fusion to avoid it.
"You escaped this turn." The Previous Master/Instructor said, raising his head. "But next turn will be your final struggle."
[Previous Master/Instructor: 3000 LP, Hand 0]
[Cyber Ogre 2] [ATK 2600]
[Future Fusion] [Set Card (De-Fusion)]
Although the Cyber Dragon that was sent to the Graveyard earlier due to Future Fusion became Fusion Material for Chimeratech Rampage Dragon, Future Fusion had already taken effect after being activated.
By the Standby Phase of the next turn, the "Cyber Style"'s Ultimate Secret Art, Cyber End Dragon, will descend onto the Field. At that time, even setting monsters in Defense Position won't protect the opponent's Life Points!
Chapter 474: No Matter How Good a Card Is, If You Can't Play It During Your Opponent's Turn—Nani?!
"My Turn, Draw a Card."
Hayato lowered his head to confirm the card he drew this Turn. He wasn't in a hurry to Activate it, instead looking at the [Cyber Ogre 2].
"As expected of the 'Cyber Style'. Using Fusion three times in one Turn to achieve such powerful suppression ability. An ordinary Duelist probably wouldn't even survive the First Turn."
Besides the card he just drew, Hayato's Hand only contained three useless [Ojama] monsters. Summoning them for Field presence would be completely useless. After all, Hayato's memory wasn't so bad that he'd forget the [Future Fusion] his Opponent Activated last Turn.
Next Turn, his Opponent was going to Summon [Cyber End Dragon] which has piercing damage. Summoning a few small fry with only 1000 DEF would just be asking for trouble.
Other than that, Hayato's Field consisted of [A-Assault Core] and [B-Buster Drake].
In Hayato's previous life, [ABC-Dragon Buster] was listed as a Limited Card, only allowing one copy in the Deck, due to its overly simple Summoning requirements. This greatly restricted its performance, though it was still a considerably excellent engine that could be added to other Decks. However, the current [ABC-Dragon Buster] had only appeared for the first time in this World during the Duel against the Former Cyber Style Master, so it was naturally impossible for it to be listed as a Limited Card.
But unfortunately, Hayato still hadn't included more than one copy of [ABC-Dragon Buster] in his Deck. The reason was simple: it was too expensive.
The [A], [B], and [C] cards were cards Hayato pulled from the [Horakhty, the Creator of Light] Support Card Pack associated with [Divine-Beast Type]. The System's explanation was, "[Horakhty, the Creator of Light] can even create light, so how could Divine-Beast Type monsters be so inconvenient?" In short, it was just arbitrarily making things up, relying on its highest interpretive authority.
And since he accidentally drew all three [A], [B], and [C], Hayato wasn't going to let them sit idle in the Warehouse. He thought about going to the Shop to directly exchange for [ABC-Dragon Buster] and potentially the usable [AtoZ-Dragon Buster Cannon].
'Red Dad and Slacker only cost 30,000 DP Points to exchange. Although my current DP Points are exactly 30,000, exchanging for the boss monster means I can't afford the necessary Support Cards. But exchanging for two UR cards that aren't the absolute top tier shouldn't be a problem.'
That's what Hayato thought at the time, and he Searched for the target cards in the Shop. Three seconds later, his DP Points balance dropped to an awkward 500 Points. For a moment, Hayato wondered if the System had adjusted the card prices in real-time just to leave him with 500 Points.
In short, while Hayato did have [ABC-Dragon Buster], unfortunately, he only had the one copy that had already been sent to the Graveyard by Disassembling. So, even though the three material monsters were all present on his Field and in his Graveyard, he couldn't Summon it again until he Recycled [ABC-Dragon Buster] from the Graveyard.
"Looks like Aniki is in a tough spot, ne~"
In Hayato's Hand, [Ojama Yellow] crawled halfway out of the Card, resting his arm on the Card border and poking his head out to say proudly, "At a time like this, the only ones Aniki can Use are us, right?"
"With Aniki's strength, he must have just drawn a Card that can Utilize our power."
"See? We're Aniki's Ace Card after all."
"Who says only those standing in the light are Heroes? Just Use us to your heart's content, Aniki!"
[Ojama Green] and [Ojama Black] also poked their heads out of the Card, giving their full power to butter him up. At the same time, [Ojama Yellow] even sent his two eyeballs towards the Hand Hayato had just drawn but hadn't had time to confirm, wanting to see what Card Hayato had drawn this Turn.
Listening to the [Ojama] monsters' remarks, Hayato's mouth twitched. He glanced at the Card he had just drawn: "Is that so? Then I'll Use you to my heart's content. It just so happens to be a Card that can perfectly put you to Use."
"Eh? What is it? What is it?"
"It must be [Polymerization]! The Three Brothers combine into one to single-handedly defend against that [Cyber Ogre 2]!"
[Ojama Green] and [Ojama Black] looked at Hayato with some anticipation as he placed the Card he had just drawn into the Spell & Trap Zone on his Duel Disk.
[Ojama Black]'s idea wasn't bad. [Ojama King], formed by Fusing the three [Ojama] monsters, indeed had the ability to defend against [Cyber Ogre 2] because of its 3000 DEF and 0 ATK.
However, against the 4000 ATK [Cyber End Dragon], it would just be crushed.
[Ojama Yellow] clung lively to Hayato's Duel Disk, looking at the Magic Card that was Activated face-up, and at the same time heard Hayato's voice: "Since my Hand, other than this Card, has two or more cards, I Activate the Magic Card [Left Arm Offering]!"
"Huh?" Hearing the word "Stakes" in the Magic Card's Card Name, [Ojama Yellow] suddenly had an ominous premonition. He quickly lowered his head and read out the Effect of [Left Arm Offering]: "If you have 2 or more cards in your Hand other than this card, Banish all of them to Activate this card. Add 1 Magic Card from your Deck to your Hand?!"
"Banish us, all of us!?"
"No way, Aniki!!"
"Yamero—"
Although the [Ojama] Brothers tried to perform a "My Struggle for Survival" act, Hayato had superior skill. With a slap of the Card, he forced the [Ojama] Brothers, who were about to crawl out, back into the cards. Then, ignoring [Ojama Yellow]'s groan of "My waist is going to break," he stuffed them into his pocket to Banish them.
"An Effect that lets you Add a Magic Card directly from your Deck to your Hand? Did you Use such a Card because you couldn't Draw the Card you needed through simple Card Draw? It seems you're still not qualified as a Duelist, young man."
With his arms crossed, the Former Cyber Style Master commented on the [Left Arm Offering] Hayato Activated. However, Hayato denied it: "You're wrong about that, stubborn old man. As a Duelist, creating the Draw you need is a basic quality."
"However, I had my own goal in specifically Banishing the other three cards in my Hand. After all, sometimes, dead people are more useful than living ones." He paused, then Displayed the Card he had Added to his Hand, "For example, when Using this Card!"
"Magic Card, [Graceful Charity]! As the best Card Drawing Card currently available, this Limited Card has the ability to replenish both players' Hands to six cards simultaneously!"
Saying this, Hayato drew six cards from his Deck in one go.
"You can Draw more cards after removing the excess from your Hand? But doing so also helped me draw cards. Since my Hand was also 0, I drew six cards." The Previous Master/Instructor said, not even looking down. He reached out and drew exactly six cards from the Top of Deck, no more, no less.
It was clear that the Draw Training the Apprentices were doing when Hayato first entered the Cyber Style Dojo was something this old man hadn't neglected despite his age.
After Confirming the cards he drew, the Previous Master/Instructor's mouth curved up. It seemed like he drew some useful cards with [Graceful Charity].
"You drew some good cards, huh..." Hayato naturally saw that the Former Cyber Style Master had drawn some good cards, but he wasn't flustered, because his Hand wasn't bad either. "However, no matter how good a Hand is, it's meaningless if you can't play it during your Opponent's Turn."
"Watch me End the Duel this Turn!"
Saying this, Hayato played a Card from his Hand, "Let me show you the Bond Card I received from a Friend!"
"Magic Card, [Change of Heart]! I gain Control of your [Cyber Ogre 2] on the Field until the End Phase!"
"Wh-What?!"
The Previous Master/Instructor's eyes widened. Clearly, he hadn't expected the so-called "Bond Card" Hayato mentioned to be [Change of Heart]. Using a Card that lets you Take Control of someone else's Monster as a Bond Card... what kind of shady bond is that?
The half-Angel, half-Demon Priest in [Change of Heart] released a pink light wave commonly seen in hypnosis doujinshi. Seeing his Monster about to be taken, the pure-love faction Former Cyber Style Master immediately Activated his Set Card in the Spell/Trap Zone: "Don't even think about it! I won't let you do that!"
"Chain to your [Change of Heart], I Activate the Quick-Play Spell Card I Set last Turn, [De-Fusion]!"
Before the pink hypnosis light wave could hit, the Effect of [De-Fusion] took Effect first, Disassembling the [Cyber Ogre 2] on the Previous Master/Instructor's Field back into the two [Cyber Ogre] monsters sleeping in his Graveyard.
[Cyber Ogre][5☆/EARTH]
[Machine Type/Effect]
[1900/1200]
"Tsk, you dodged it by Using [De-Fusion]?" Hayato clicked his tongue, annoyed. Although he knew the Set Card in the Opponent's Spell/Trap Zone wasn't just for show, he didn't expect it to be [De-Fusion].
Not only can it Disassemble your own Fusion Monster back into its Fusion Material, but if needed, it can also return the Opponent's Fusion Monster to the Deck, just like Hayato taught Joey Wheeler .
Originally, if [Change of Heart] had taken Effect, the Former Cyber Style Master's Field would have had no monsters. With his Life Points at only 3000, Hayato could have won by using the gained [Cyber Ogre 2] and any monster with 400 or more ATK for a Direct Attack.
But since the [Change of Heart] strategy became ineffective, he would just switch to another strategy.
"Although I couldn't gain Control of your [Cyber Ogre 2], [Cyber Ogre] is much easier to deal with than [Cyber Ogre 2], which only increases ATK when it battles. Although there are now two of them."
Hayato drew a Card from his Hand and inserted it into his Duel Disk, "In this situation, the most suitable cards to Use would be cards like [System Down] or [Lightning Vortex] that can directly Destroy your monsters with Effects. But unfortunately, I haven't included those cards in my Deck."
"However, it's also the fun of Duel Monsters to occasionally change Style and Defeat you with a beatdown."
Hayato played a Card from his Hand: "I change both monsters on my Field from Defense Position to Attack Position, then Activate the Effect of the Continuous Spell Card [Frontline Base] on the Field. Once per Turn, I can Special Summon one Union Monster from my Hand. I Special Summon [Heavy Mech Support Armor] from my Hand, and then Equip it to [B-Buster Drake]."
A mechanical device combining multiple pieces of equipment like mechanical arms, wings, and rocket boosters appeared on Hayato's Field, and immediately Disassembled, attaching itself to [B-Buster Drake].
[B-Buster Drake] (Equipped with [Heavy Mech Support Armor]) [ATK 1500 → 2000]
"[Heavy Mech Support Armor] can be equipped to a Machine Type Monster on my Field as an Equip Card, Increasing its ATK by 500. Also, when [B-Buster Drake] is Destroyed by Battle or Effect, I can Use the [Heavy Mech Support Armor] equipped to it as a substitute."
"Then, Enter Battle Phase!"
The Former Cyber Style Master compared the monsters on both players' Fields—
[Cyber Ogre][ATK 1900]
[A-Assault Core][ATK 1900]
[B-Buster Drake][ATK 2000]
"You want to Destroy one [Cyber Ogre] with [B-Buster Drake] after Increasing its ATK, and then have [A-Assault Core] and the other [Cyber Ogre] engage in mutual destruction?"
"In that case, you'll only deal a mere 100 points of Battle Damage to me. But when it's my next Turn, after [Cyber End Dragon]'s descent, this Duel will be over."
Hayato smiled upon hearing this and drew a Card: "No, since I said I would End the Duel this Turn, I will absolutely do it. Mere overclocking Attack Power has never been the patent of [Cyber Dragon]."
Hayato slapped a Card onto his Duel Disk. It was [Limiter Removal]?!
Although [Limiter Removal] has the downside that the monster whose ATK was increased will be Destroyed during the End Phase, because [ABC-Dragon Buster], which Hayato Uses, is quite good at reanimation, the downside can be Avoided by Disassembling it during the Opponent's Turn. Hayato naturally included this useful Quick-Play Spell Card in his Deck and Activated it during the Battle Phase.
[A-Assault Core][ATK 1900 → 3800]
[B-Buster Drake][ATK 2000 → 4000]
"After double Attack Power, the Damage increases from the previous 100 points to a full 2100. So grit your teeth and bear it, old man." Hayato raised his Hand high, "I Use [B-Buster Drake] to Attack [Cyber Ogre]!"
"My palm burns with a fiery red flame! It cries out for me to grasp Victory!"
"Bakunetsu!"
"God Finger Heat End!"
Under Hayato's Chuunibyou-filled Attack Declaration, the entire body of [B-Buster Drake], equipped with [Heavy Mech Support Armor], became scorching hot due to the complete overload of internal Energy, even causing the surrounding air to subtly twist.
Large amounts of Energy accumulated in the Cannon Barrel on its back, ready to fire. With the activation of the rocket boosters, [B-Buster Drake] instantly transformed into a green phantom, rushing forward like a teleportation to the defenseless [Cyber Ogre] and pressing its two Cannon Barrels against [Cyber Ogre]'s abdomen!
The next second, a zero-range overloaded Cannon Blast!
"Boom!"
Hayato watched the smoke completely engulfing [B-Buster Drake] and [Cyber Ogre], but he frowned.
[B-Buster Drake]'s Attack had indeed gone through; it hadn't been negated by cards like Battle Negation. And the Previous Master/Instructor's Spell/Trap Zone had no Set Card. The cards in his Graveyard so far were all Revealed Cards, and there was no existence like [Electromagnetic Turtle].
Logically, [B-Buster Drake], having completed its Attack, should have retreated. Also, the Opponent didn't seem to have taken any Damage. What incident could have occurred?
No, wait! Hayato suddenly remembered something. He looked at the other [Cyber Ogre] that hadn't been caught in the Attack and stood like an iron tower on the Former Cyber Style Master's Field.
He suddenly recalled that, although not very noticeable, [Cyber Ogre] was indeed an Effect Monster, and furthermore, it was a Card whose Card Effect was different between the Anime and Real Card versions!
Masaka?!
# Chapter 475: I'm About Fifty-Fifty with the Duel King
In the dispersing smoke and dust, the figure of **Cyber Ogre** was revealed, its large hands firmly restraining **B-Buster Drake**'s body, forcing it to maintain the posture it had just assumed when firing its cannon.
Although it was a battle between two monsters, one with 1900 ATK and the other with a high 4000 ATK, looking at the situation on the Field now, the one holding the advantage was surprisingly the side with the relatively weaker ATK, **Cyber Ogre**!?
Not only did it not suffer the slightest damage from the previous attack, **Cyber Ogre** even managed to suppress **B-Buster Drake**.
The Previous Master/Instructor's voice entered Hayato's ears: "You were really just that close to succeeding."
Only to see the Former Cyber Style Master holding up a card in his Hand and showing it, his expression serious: "Although the effort you put into victory was quite moving, what I carry is the glory of the 'Cyber Style', and I have a reason I absolutely cannot lose!"
"Because of the effect of **Graceful Charity** you just activated, I drew six cards from my Deck, and among them was exactly this kind of **Cyber Ogre**!"
Saying this, the Previous Master/Instructor sent the **Cyber Ogre** card he showed from his Hand into the Graveyard: "By discarding **Cyber Ogre** from my Hand to the Graveyard, I can then target 1 **Cyber Ogre** on my Field."
"In battles involving this **Cyber Ogre**, neither player's monsters will be destroyed by battle, and the battle damage taken by both players also becomes 0. Furthermore, until the end of the next Battle Phase, that **Cyber Ogre**'s ATK will increase by the ATK of the opponent's monster it battled!"
[Cyber Ogre][ATK1900→5900]
Driving its arms, the **Cyber Ogre**, whose ATK soared upwards, now holding the upper hand in power, gave a gentle flick and threw the **B-Buster Drake** captured in its palm back onto Hayato's Field, hitting the ground with a 'thud,' clearly having taken a hard fall.
"This way, victory is within my grasp," the Previous Master/Instructor said lightly, but his words were full of confidence.
During the current Battle Phase, **Cyber Ogre**'s Effect is active, which means this **Cyber Ogre** has become a barrier on his Field that cannot be broken through by battle. Even if a monster with infinite ATK attacks, it cannot inflict the slightest damage to him; instead, it will cause **Cyber Ogre**'s ATK to be further accumulated.
At the same time, this ATK will be maintained until the next turn.
At the end phase of Hayato's turn, the two monsters on his Field that were affected by the **Limiter Removal** Effect will be destroyed, but **B-Buster Drake** will avoid destruction due to the Effect of **Heavy Mech Support Armor**, but will also remain in attack position because it already attacked, and its ATK will revert to only 1500.
As long as he attacks with the **Cyber Ogre** with 5900 ATK, the damage dealt will be enough to reduce Hayato's still-full 4000 Life Points to 0.
To avoid this destined defeat, Hayato only has two paths—either use the other **Cyber Ogre** on his Field whose ATK hasn't increased as an opening to inflict 3000 points of battle damage to himself in one go to reduce Life Points to 0, or use cards that directly destroy monsters like **Lightning Vortex** during Main Phase 2 to destroy the **Cyber Ogre** with 5900 ATK.
However, if Hayato had such a card, he would have used it in Main Phase 1 already.
Furthermore, there's another point, which is the **Card of Demise** card Hayato activated earlier. Although it has the powerful Effect of adding a Spell Card directly from the Deck to the Hand, powerful cards often come with risks.
To obtain **Graceful Charity**, Hayato not only banished all the **Ojama** monsters in his Hand, but also because of the restriction of **Card of Demise**, he cannot even set Spell/Trap Cards this turn. Even if he had powerful attack declaration traps like **Mirror Force** in his Hand, he couldn't set and use them.
Under the composed gaze of the Former Cyber Style Master, Hayato, however, revealed a confident smile: "In that case, I'll just use **A-Assault Core** to attack the other **Cyber Ogre**."
"Crush that **Cyber Ogre** whose ATK hasn't increased, **A-Assault Core**, faraway ravage domination!"
Lightning surged through its body due to the overload, releasing the concentrated energy from the emitter on its tail. This attack was no longer obstructed by the Previous Master/Instructor like before.
After all, a Deck can only contain three cards with the same name. The Previous Master/Instructor's third **Cyber Ogre**, besides the two on the Field, had just been sent to the Graveyard. It's impossible for it to return to his Hand and be used again.
A strong wind, transformed from the battle damage, blew over. The Previous Master/Instructor's wide robes rustled loudly in the strong wind, but his face remained unshaken.
[Previous Master/Instructor: 3000→1100LP]
"Useless struggle, merely reduced my Life Points slightly," the Previous Master/Instructor said calmly. "But while destroying my **Cyber Ogre**, you also completely sealed off the only opening on my Field."
"You no longer have any possibility of defeating me."
Hearing this, Hayato, however, shook his head: "Sore wa dou kana?"
"Its ATK was increased to 5900, and it also gained resistance to being destroyed by battle. It even gained the ability to prevent you from taking battle damage from it. Such a **Cyber Ogre** is indeed troublesome." A card from his Hand was drawn by Hayato. "But the way to win a duel victory is not just through battle!"
"During this turn, I haven't performed a Normal Summon yet, so I will tribute the two monsters on my Field to perform a Tribute Summon!"
The card in Hayato's Hand was slapped onto his Duel Disk. The operation of summoning a monster after the Battle Phase had already ended made it hard for the Previous Master/Instructor to understand.
"You're summoning a monster after the Battle Phase has already ended, and with two tributes? Are you going to summon a higher-level monster of Level 7 or higher?"
"But it's useless. Even if you summoned the legendary **Blue-Eyes White Dragon**, it wouldn't be a match for my **Cyber Ogre**. What's more, during the Standby Phase of my next turn, because of the Effect of **Future Fusion**, **Cyber End Dragon** will also appear!"
"You can't possibly use the monster you summoned to reduce my Life Points to 0, can you?"
Hearing the Previous Master/Instructor's words, Hayato, however, nodded: "Ah, after all, this monster can be said to be the monster I trust the most. He has been with me since the first time I played the Duel Monsters game in this World."
**A-Assault Core** and **B-Buster Drake** equipped with **Heavy Mech Support Armor** dispersed into particles from the Field. And as the two monsters were tributed, offering their power, a strong wind surged on Hayato's Field, spiraling upwards into the sky, transforming into a powerful wind tornado, like a sky-piercing pillar!
"Appear, path of truth and revelation, ride the gale that connects the unknown world!"
"Tribute Summon, **Gaia the Fierce Knight**"
"[Gaia the Fierce Knight]!!!"
A lance wrapped in spiral power tore and ripped through the gale. The rampant airflow messed up the mane of the war horse beneath it. Beneath the cold steel armor, it was not wearing an alternate form, but was attacking in its original form after a long time—**Gaia the Fierce Knight**!
[Gaia the Fierce Knight][ATK2300]
The Previous Master/Instructor naturally recognized **Gaia the Fierce Knight**. Because there was a Duelist who used this monster as his ace card who was too famous, even the Apprentices recently recruited by the "Cyber Style", without deeply studying the "Cyber Style", many people also liked to put a **Gaia the Fierce Knight** in their Deck to feel the 'soul'.
However, more often it was because their Decks themselves lacked strength. A **Gaia the Fierce Knight** with 2300 ATK could barely be used to fill a spot.
But the Deck of this challenger before me clearly has enough strength. The operation of summoning that **ABC-Dragon Buster** in just one turn just now, saying the Deck runs smoothly with a mature system wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Putting **Ojama** monsters in the Deck could somewhat be explained as 'cannon fodder' for **ABC-Dragon Buster** to activate its Effect, but what's the deal with this **Gaia the Fierce Knight** card?
This is your "pure Machine-Type Deck"?
"A **Gaia the Fierce Knight** with 2300 ATK, huh? Its ATK is higher than the **B-Buster Drake** whose ATK will drop to 1500 after the turn ends, but, it's still not a match for my **Cyber Ogre**."
"That's natural. After all, although it's my ace card, it's an ace card that has fallen out of the meta. Although I could use an alternate form to duel you, there's no need for that. Just with **Gaia** in his original form, I think it's enough to defeat you."
Hayato showed a card from his Hand: "Same as the **Change of Heart** card from just now, this card is also proof of the bond between me and my 'friend'. With this card, let's end this duel."
"I Activate Continuous Spell Card, **Psychic Ectoplasm**!"
The Former Cyber Style Master hesitated for a moment after hearing the card name of **Psychic Ectoplasm**, because for a moment he couldn't recall what specific Effect this card had.
After all, the total card count of Duel Monsters cards so far, even excluding the numerous Normal Monsters, already numbers in the thousands. Among them, cards like **Pot of Greed** and **Graceful Charity** that anyone who knows a bit about Duel Monsters would put in their Deck up to the limit are understandable. If it's some obscure card, it's normal not to remember the Effect.
However, the Previous Master/Instructor noticed. The **Gaia the Fierce Knight** who was just radiant, full of presence, and dominating presence upon appearance, after hearing that the card Hayato activated was **Psychic Ectoplasm**, his body clearly trembled.
Seemingly also seeing that the Previous Master/Instructor didn't know the Effect of **Psychic Ectoplasm**, Hayato opened his mouth to explain: "Although the **Psychic Ectoplasm** card is a Continuous Spell Card activated on my Field, like a Field Spell Card, it's a card whose Effect both players use."
"At the End Phase of both players' respective turns, they are forced to choose one face-up monster on their Field and tribute it, then inflict damage equal to half the ATK of that monster to the Opponent Duelist."
"What, how can there be such a card that actively tributes one's own monster? Someone actually uses their own monster as a sacrifice!" The Previous Master/Instructor was very shocked. Hayato's operation at this moment was completely different from the style of 'Ceremony of the Duel' he had experienced in the past.
Others are all like "You actually destroyed my monster, damn it" "I won't let you destroy my monster" and so on. This guy, however, is completely the opposite. Is it a style of actively sending one's own monster to the Graveyard?
"You bastard!"
He actually said "bastard" to Hayato, whom he was meeting for the first time!?
Hayato pushed up the non-existent glasses on the bridge of his nose. Under the Former Cyber Style Master's expression of disbelief, and the terrified gaze of **Gaia the Fierce Knight**, he declared: "This is a necessary sacrifice."
"Then, my turn ends here, and then the Effect of **Psychic Ectoplasm** is forced activation. I must tribute the only face-up monster on my Field—**Gaia the Fierce Knight**—inflict half of its ATK—2300 points—to the Opponent Duelist, which is 1150 points of damage!"
"Final Rider, G, G, Gaia!"
Manually adding a sound effect, Hayato waved his Hand forward. Only to see spiritual light rising from **Gaia the Fierce Knight**'s body. His entire body was like it was painted red and given a horn, increasing its speed threefold, transforming into a phantom and fiercely crashing into the Former Cyber Style Master.
Although there was the obstruction of **Cyber Ogre** midway, the phantom that **Gaia the Fierce Knight** transformed into instantly penetrated **Cyber Ogre**, crashing into the Previous Master/Instructor's body without any obstruction!
"Ugh gaaah!!"
Although it wasn't a Dark Game, **Gaia the Fierce Knight** is after all also a higher-level card spirit with Solid Vision. The impact released by tributing **Gaia the Fierce Knight** actually pushed the Previous Master/Instructor flying directly, causing him to fall down onto the ground and slide several meters along the wooden floor inside the Dojo.
However, it only looked like he had suffered some huge damage. Hayato was also holding back his strength. The damage this old man actually received was actually less than being slapped. The main purpose of him flying so far was just to make him lose face a bit. The reason he cried out was mostly because the old man completely didn't expect himself to fly and was just unaccustomed to it.
[Previous Master/Instructor: 1100LP→0]
Having won the duel victory, and conveniently giving this stubborn old man a trivial lesson, Hayato took off his Duel Disk, holding it with his right hand and resting it on his shoulder. Pressing the palm of his left hand against his ribs, fingertips pointing downwards, his entire body struck a very flashy 'S' shaped stance.
"This way, you old man who refuses to listen to people can properly listen to what I have to say now, right? Really." Hayato stuck out his thumb and pointed to himself. "I've been clarifying since before, I didn't come to challenging a Dojo—"
"Huh, Hayato?"
Hayato's words were only halfway out when he heard the gate of the Dojo being pushed open. The person who walked into the Dojo saw Hayato standing in the center of the Dojo, who had just finished dueling the Former Cyber Style Master.
"Samejima?" Hayato turned his head and saw the person who called out his name. Wasn't it precisely the person who invited him to the "Cyber Style" Dojo, the "Cyber Style" Current Master who wasn't in the Dojo himself, Samejima Iemitsu?
At first glance, Hayato noticed that guy Samejima's hairline seemed to have risen.
"Ahahaha, I'm really sorry, Hayato. I was delayed outside just now. You waited long, didn't you?" Samejima smiled apologetically, then noticed the Previous Master/Instructor who was still lying on the ground and hadn't sat up. "Huh, Teacher, what is this... Is this some new training method?"
The Previous Master/Instructor lying on the ground looked at Samejima, who was greeting Hayato as if nothing was wrong, his eyebrow twitched: "Samejima, you're not trying to tell me, are you, that this Kid, you know him?"
"Uh, yeah, I've known Hayato since the time of the Duelist Kingdom a few years ago." Samejima scratched the back of his head. His gaze dropped, saw the Duel Disk the Previous Master/Instructor was wearing, and realized and said, "Oh, I see. Teacher, you dueled Hayato, didn't you?"
Samejima really brought up the most awkward topic. The Previous Master/Instructor, who had just lost the duel, was feeling quite embarrassed because he was defeated under the gaze of the Apprentices and also flew so far, but Samejima actually brought this up again, making his mood truly annoyed.
With a cold snort, the Previous Master/Instructor glanced at Hayato and answering Samejima: "That Kid named Hayato and I were fifty-fifty."
Hayato gave a subtle look at the old man stubbornly trying to save face.
I utterly defeated you and you can still say it was fifty-fifty? Before, I was wondering how you, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, taught Samejima, that guy who's so playing Underworld. So Samejima's thick-skinned nature and skill at using traps is a secret style technique, huh?
Recently, a lot of people are starting to play Exodia. You can encounter two or three in ten matches.
Please give a recommendation ticket.
(End of Chapter)