Chapter 102: Let the Show Begin
Chapter 102: Let the Show Begin
"It would be better to duel you with this deck."
You Xuan casually drew a deck from the box behind him and slotted it into the Duel Disk.
"Hmph, it doesn't matter which deck you use." The beetle seemed quite confident. "In the face of the power bestowed upon me by the True God, all decks are equally feeble. Through the ritual of combat, become my master's sacrifice!"
"Duel!" x2
"I'll go first. Draw!" You Xuan declared. "I activate the Spell Card 'Greed Jar' to draw two cards from my deck. Then, I'll set a monster. And now, I activate this card—"
The image of a Spell Card appeared before him.
"Spell Card—Foolish Burial! Send one monster from your deck to the graveyard."
You Xuan drew a card that popped out of his deck.
"I send 'Killer Snake' from my deck to the graveyard!"
He then drew two more cards.
"I set two cards. End turn."
Beetle Knight: "My turn to draw! I activate the Spell Card 'Hand Destruction'! Both players discard their entire hands to the graveyard and then draw the same number of cards they discarded."
The Beetle Knight drew again and revealed a card in his hand.
"Now, I'll activate the effect of this guy in my hand."
He showed a Monster Card in his hand.
"Giant Drill Beetle! I can Special Summon it by removing Insect-type monsters in my graveyard from play!"
The Beetle Knight drew a card that popped out of the graveyard.
"I remove 'Dragonfly' from play, which I discarded to the graveyard just now, and Special Summon 'Giant Drill Beetle'!"
The ground below shook as a hideous giant beetle wormed its slimy, toothy maw into view.
[Giant Drill Beetle: ATK 1900]
"Then I activate the Spell Card 'Monster Reborn'! Revive a monster from the graveyard!
I revive this card that was discarded to the graveyard! Come forth, 'Resonator'!"
[Resonator: ATK 1000]
You Xuan raised an eyebrow.
Regardless of the strength of his opponent's deck, this "Resonator" was a good card.
When "Resonator" is sent from the field to the graveyard, you can search your deck for an Insect-type monster with a level of 5 or higher. And when this card is removed from play, you can send an Insect-type monster from your deck to the graveyard.
The presence of this card naturally reminded You Xuan of the 'Tama-Chan' used by senior Watanabe Xiuichi, the "Devil Scissor-Toothed Worm." Although Insect-type monsters were relatively obscure, in the early environment, the Devil Scissor-Toothed Worm was a high-quality card that could be directly summoned by removing two insects from the graveyard.
If "Resonator" was sent from the field to the graveyard, he could immediately search his deck for the Level 8 Devil Scissor-Toothed Worm. Then, by using the effect of the Devil Scissor-Toothed Worm, he could remove "Resonator" from the graveyard and Special Summon it, gaining a 2800 ATK beatstick while also setting up another card in the graveyard.
Hmm, although You Xuan wasn't particularly interested in Insect-themed decks, he believed in being prepared. It never hurt to have a spare card like this.
Besides, after this duel, it would likely become ownerless anyway.
"Let's battle! First, I'll attack with 'Giant Drill Beetle'!"
The Drill Beetle burrowed underground and, a second later, broke through the ground on You Xuan's side of the field. The face-down card flipped over, revealing a projection of a small sword-wielding penguin.
"Penguin Soldier's effect." You Xuan waved his hand. "When this card is flipped face-up, I can return up to two monsters on the opponent's side of the field to their owner's hand. I choose 'Giant Drill Beetle' and 'Resonator'!"
Beetle Knight: "!"
Both monsters returned to his hand, leaving his field empty.
"Tch, so it's an effect that returns cards to the hand."
The two insects he had instantly summoned were not just for offense—the "Resonator" was also his hidden backup plan.
Whether through battle or card effects, as long as his opponent destroyed the "Resonator," he could search his deck for his ace monster, "Devil Scissor-Toothed Worm," bestowed upon him by the True God, and launch an all-out assault.
But now that it had bounced back to his hand, his strategy had fallen apart.
However, that was not a problem.
"I haven't conducted my Normal Summon this turn yet." The Beetle Knight stated, "I set a monster on the field and another card face-down. End turn."
He re-set the "Resonator" on the field, with the same effect as before.
The Beetle Knight stared at his opponent with a sinister gleam in his eyes, a cold smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
Come on, destroy my "Resonator."
That will be the trigger for your downfall.
"My turn, draw." You Xuan said, "At this moment, the effect of 'Killer Snake,' which I discarded to the graveyard last turn, activates.
As long as this card is in the graveyard, you can return it to your hand during your preparation phase." (Old effect)
Although it seemed like a weak monster, its ability to self-recover every turn provided endless opportunities to gain resources, making it highly active in various decks. Eventually, it was also placed on the Forbidden List.
'I activate the Magic Card, Angel's Charity, to draw three cards from my Deck, and then discard two cards from my hand.'
You Xuan sent two cards from his hand to the Graveyard.
'Additionally, when this Black Forest Witch is sent to the Graveyard, I can add a monster with 1500 or less DEF from my Deck to my hand.
The card I will add from my Deck to my hand is this one.'
You Xuan drew and revealed a card.
'Abyss Soldier with 1300 DEF.'
The Deck automatically shuffled itself within the Duel Disk. He first added Abyss Soldier to his hand and then revealed another card in his hand.
'I activate the Continuous Magic, Water Barrier! Once per turn, when no monsters are on the field, Special Summon a Level 4 or lower WATER Attribute monster from the hand.
I Special Summon Abyss Soldier from my hand!'
[Abyss Soldier: ATK 1800]
Beetle Knight remained expressionless.
Go on, attack and destroy my Resonator."
'I activate the effect of Abyss Soldier,' You Xuan declared. 'Once per turn, by discarding a WATER Attribute monster from my hand, I can return a card on the field to its owner's hand.
I discard Killer Snake from my hand to return your face-down monster back to your hand.'
Beetle Knight: "!?!"
Back to the hand again?!
Twice it had been summoned and twice it had been returned, and now, as he watched the Resonator fly back into his hand, his mouth twitched.
Today, this damn bug just won't stay on the field, will it?
You Xuan: 'I Normal Summon a second Abyss Soldier.'
[Abyss Soldier: ATK 1800]
Again?!
Beetle Knight's eyes narrowed.
That won't do!
'I activate my face-down Trap Card, Pitfall! Destroy any monster with an ATK of 1000 or more when it is Normal Summoned!' Beetle Knight shouted.
'Too slow.'
You Xuan calmly flipped over his face-down card.
'I activate my Continuous Trap, Royal Decree! All Trap Cards on the field become ineffective!'
Beetle Knight: "Wh-what?!"
He could only stare wide-eyed as his Pitfall Trap was bound by the irresistible power of Royal Decree and shattered with a loud crack.
Even the onlooking Judai couldn't help but give You Xuan a strange look.
It's so rare to see You Xuan using this kind of card.
Doesn't this mean he can't use Trap Cards himself?
That must be uncomfortable for someone like You Xuan.
'Battle! Direct attack with both Abyss Soldiers!'
The two soldiers flew forward, their tridents slashing through the air. The Beetle Knight let out a pig-like squeal as the trident, trailed by a stream of water, sliced through him.
[Beetle Armor Knight: LP 4000 → LP 400]
'In one breath, he's taken it down to just 400 Life Points.'
Judai's eyes, fixed on You Xuan's back, were shining.
So strong.
I want to duel him even more now.
'You brat!'
Beetle Knight rose shakily, blood gushing from the gash on his body.
'My Battle Phase is over, but my turn isn't.'
You Xuan revealed another card in his hand.
'I activate the effect of the second Abyss Soldier by discarding a WATER Attribute monster from my hand to return a card on the field to its owner's hand. I discard another Killer Snake.'
Judai: "?"
Beetle Knight: "?"
Both of them were initially taken aback.
Return to the hand again?!
However, Beetle Knight's field had been swept clean, both the front and back rows, leaving it as blank as a sheet of paper with no cards to return.
'Abyss Soldier doesn't just return cards on the opponent's field to their hand, it can also target cards on my field.
Therefore, I return my own Continuous Trap, Royal Decree, back to my hand!'
Judai: "!"
Beetle Knight: "!!!!!!"
What?!
As he watched the ominous Trap Card return to You Xuan's hand, even the slow-witted Beetle Knight realized the gravity of the situation.
When he wanted to use a Trap, You Xuan would activate Royal Decree to negate his backrow, but now, You Xuan could just use Abyss Soldier to bounce the Decree back to his hand.
Beetle Knight was completely stumped.
Doesn't that mean only I can't use Trap Cards?!
'I Set three cards. End Turn.'
He now had Royal Decree face-up in his backrow, along with two other unknown cards.
You Xuan smiled and gestured for him to continue.
Come, let the show begin.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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