Chapter 103: Soldiers from the Abyss
Chapter 103: Soldiers from the Abyss
Abyss Soldier, a monster card that made a significant impact when it first debuted, is now a force to be reckoned with in the Dueling World. By discarding a single card from your hand, you can bounce any card on the field back to its owner's hand. It serves as both a powerful removal option and a way to recycle your own cards.
However, the card initially saw limited use due to its restriction of requiring the discard of a Water-Attribute monster, which was a less popular attribute at the time. Additionally, as its effect essentially put the user at a card disadvantage, it was challenging to incorporate Abyss Soldier into mainstream decks of that period.
Thus, the "Abyss Control" deck was born—a creation of tactical duelists aiming to unlock the full potential of Abyss Soldier.
True to its name, Abyss Control centers around Abyss Soldier as its core strategy. And the perfect partner for Abyss Soldier is none other than Snake Shooter, an equally obscure Water-Attribute monster. At the start of each turn, as long as Snake Shooter is in the graveyard, it returns to the controller's hand, providing an endless supply of ammunition for Abyss Soldier's effect.
While Abyss Control once dominated and left its mark in the meta, it is often relegated to the sidelines in historical discussions, overshadowed by the chaos induced by the Chaos deck during the same period.
Nevertheless, You Xuan remains confident in the strength of his Abyss Control deck. Compared to the oppressive might of Chaos decks and their signature "Dimension Slash," he finds his current strategy more enjoyable.
Take the present situation, for example. Look at the ecstatic expression on that Insect Duelist's face.
Insect Knight: "@%@"
The usually slow-on-the-uptake Insect Duelist has finally grasped the terrifying synergy between Abyss Soldier and his partner.
At first glance, Abyss Soldier might seem like a typical low-level monster that relies on card disadvantage to clear the field. However, when utilized skillfully, it opens up a plethora of strategic options.
Especially when paired with equally disruptive effects like "Royal Decree," which affects both players, clever usage can result in a one-sided lockdown, doubling the blow to the opponent's psyche.
Just witness the current state of the Insect Armor Knight.
Initially dismissive of Abyss Soldier as a low-level scrub, he now regards the duo as harbingers of doom, dragging their opponents straight to the underworld.
"Being able to clear the field and recycle cards to counter 'Royal Decree'—what a fascinating combination!"
As expected, Judai is thrilled by the unfolding duel.
He finds You Xuan's creative combinations exhilarating, and his interest in experiencing such a unique duel for himself is piqued.
"Damn it! Don't underestimate me! It's my turn! Draw!"
With his cards repeatedly bounced back to his hand, the Insect Knight's field is as pristine as a blank canvas, and his life points hang by a thread at 400. Moreover, any trap cards he plays on his turn will be sealed by the face-up "Royal Decree," and even if he summons a defense position monster, it will be bounced back by Abyss Soldier.
Unless he can get rid of those two Abyss Soldiers this turn, he's finished.
"I activate the magic card 'Dark Invitation.' Draw two cards from your deck, then remove a Dark-Attribute monster from your hand from play.
By the effect of 'Dark Invitation,' I draw two cards!"
With renewed hope, the Insect Duelist's eyes glint as he draws two fresh cards.
Here it comes—the card he needs!
"Now, by the effect of 'Dark Invitation,' I remove from play 'Death Mosquito,' a Dark-Attribute monster from my hand."
Insect Knight reveals his monster card, and a dark vortex appears in mid-air, pulling the card into its depths and out of play.
"Then, I Normal Summon 'Resonator Bee'!"
[Resonator Bee, ATK: 1000]
After enduring repeated summons and returns, Resonator Bee looks exhausted as it lands on the field for the third time, its effect unused yet again.
All the Insect Duelist needs to do is send this little bee into the fray, and victory will be his.
Resonator Bee dispersed, its body dissolving into a swirling vortex on the ground.
"And so, I special summon this guy from my deck—
—A level five, Millennium Scorpion!"
Its shell as black as the depths of night, the giant scorpion's body shimmered with a chilling aura, its tail flicking menacingly with an enormous, venomous stinger.
[Millennium Scorpion, ATK: 2000]
"Now, the effect of 'Resonator Bee' activates!" Insect Knight continued. "When this card is sent from the field to the graveyard, I can add an insect-type monster with a level higher than five from my deck to my hand.
I add 'Doom Shovel Beetle,' a level eight insect-type, from my deck to my hand!"
As he added the card, Insect Knight felt a surge of relief. Finally, he could utilize this card's incredible effect. Things were looking up!
"And now, the effect of 'Doom Shovel Beetle'!" Insect Knight shouted. "By removing from play two insect-type monsters from my graveyard, I can special summon this card directly!
I remove 'Resonator Bee' and 'Resonance Bee,' which I discarded earlier, from my graveyard!"
Behold, this is the insect bestowed upon me by the gods, possessing the ultimate power—
"—A level eight, Doom Shovel Beetle, I summon!"
The earth split open, revealing a massive beetle with a hard shell covered in sharp protrusions and ridges. Its colossal body emerged from the ground, letting out an earth-shattering roar.
[Doom Shovel Beetle, ATK: 2800]
"Additionally, 'Resonator Bee's' subsequent effect activates! When this card is removed from play, I can send an insect-type monster other than 'Resonator Bee' from my deck to the graveyard.
I send 'Skull-marked Ladybug' from my deck to the graveyard."
He sent the card he had searched out to the graveyard. Suddenly, a golden light shone from the graveyard zone on the duel disk, and a ghostly figure of a ladybug with a skull pattern on its back appeared behind him.
"The effect of 'Skull-marked Ladybug' activates! When this card is sent to the graveyard, I regain 1000 life points!"
{Insect Knight, LP 400 → LP 1400}
With his life points restored, Insect Knight took a deep breath and quickly gave his next order. "Attack! Have 'Doom Shovel Beetle' attack 'Abyss Soldier'!"
Get rid of that underworld soldier!
"I activate my face-down trap card, 'Dimension Banish,'" Yu Xuan said calmly as he flipped a card on his backrow. "When an opponent's monster declares an attack, that monster is removed from play."
The void shattered, and dimensions ruptured. The Doom Shovel Beetle, charging with full force, crashed into the dimensional rift and disappeared.
Insect Knight: "Ahhhhh!!!"
His rage knew no bounds.
This time, instead of bouncing it back to his hand, it was sent to the abyss?
Was he even allowed to play like this?
"Alright, now 'Millennium Scorpion' attacks! Attack and finish off that idiot!"
This time, there were no interruptions, and the Millennium Scorpion's attack went through. The Abyss Soldier was cleaved in two by the massive pincers.
{Yu Xuan, LP 4000 → LP 3800}
It barely scratched the surface.
The attack didn't fully go as planned, and there was still one Abyss Soldier left on his field.
"What an annoying card. But whenever 'Millennium Scorpion' destroys a monster in battle, its attack increases by 500 points.
I'll set two more cards and end my turn!"
[Millennium Scorpion, ATK: 2000 → ATK: 2500]
Insect Knight took a deep breath.
On the surface, it seemed that the remaining Abyss Soldier would bounce his Millennium Scorpion back to his hand next turn and then finish him off with a direct attack. The situation was overwhelmingly unfavorable for him.
However, Insect Knight caught sight of the two face-down cards in his backrow with his peripheral vision.
He still had a glimmer of hope!
(End of Chapter)
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