Chapter 1123: Twisted Memories
Chapter 1123: Twisted Memories
"David, I'll borrow your will for a moment."
Youxuan played another original card from his hand, one that the original owner of Titanic Earth, David Rapp, used.
Well, he completely ignored the fact that he wasn't really familiar with David. If David knew his will and deck were being inherited by this person, he might just rise from the grave in anger.
"From my hand, I activate the Magic Card 'Force Activation'!
This card allows me to force the activation of any face-down card on the field." (Original Card)
Youxuan pointed to one of Shizuka's face-down cards.
"So, I'll force the activation of that face-down card on your left side."
Shizuka was greatly surprised. "Force the activation of my face-down card!?"
Shizuka's face-down card flipped, revealing the Plant-Type Trap Card "Thorn Barrier."
This card can be activated when a Plant-Type monster is attacked, destroying all attack position monsters on the opponent's field. Essentially, it's a Plant-Type-specific "Holy Barrier - Reflecting Mirror Force."
"Huh, it just happens to be Thorn Barrier? What luck." Youxuan chuckled lightly.
He was using a combo specifically designed by David Rapp for Titanic Earth. 'Force Activation' can force the activation of an opponent's face-down card, and then 'Detonate,' a Quick-Play Spell, can change the effect of the activated card to "destroy one monster on the opponent's field."
This combo can easily One-Hit Kill an opponent if executed correctly. However, today's luck was on his side, as the face-down card on Shizuka's field was "Thorn Barrier", which already destroys monsters on the field, including Titanic Earth. This allowed Youxuan to save an extra card.
"Cards forced to activate ignore their activation conditions and can be used directly." Youxuan smiled, "So, I'll use the effect of 'Thorn Barrier' to destroy all attack position monsters on the field—meaning my own Titanic Earth."
Shizuka: "!!?"
Is this guy crazy?
Using so many resources just to destroy his own field?
"Titanic Earth's effect", Youxuan explained, "if this card is destroyed by the effect of a card controlled by the opponent, both players take damage equal to Titanic Earth's Attack Power!"
Shizuka: "!!!"
Titanic Earth's Attack Power is currently 3800.
That's 3800 damage!
And both players?
Shizuka was shocked, looking at Youxuan.
Youxuan's Life Points were 2700, while Shizuka's were 4000. If both took the damage, wouldn't it be a self-destruct for Youxuan?
"At this moment, I discard 'Wing Fluffy Ball' from my hand." Youxuan said, "When Wing Fluffy Ball is discarded during my turn, I take no effect damage. And this effect can also be used during the opponent's turn."
Shizuka: "!"
So, only she would take the damage.
"Detonate, Titanic Earth!"
Youxuan raised his arm.
"Double Impact!!"
Boom!
The core in Titanic Earth's chest suddenly turned deep red, and the rings emitted a piercing metallic screech. The core sphere seemed to collapse into a micro-black hole in a fraction of a second, then expanded with the force of a supernova. A searing white fireball, enveloping fragments of the rings, swept across the field, tearing the space into ring-shaped cracks.
"Aaaahh—"
Her body and mind were hit by an unimaginable shock, and Shizuka screamed as she was thrown into the air, feeling as light as a rose petal.
The intense pain, followed by the gradual fading of even the pain, as her consciousness began to sink into darkness.
Falling, falling.
Falling without knowing where it would end.
Could it be... over?
This isn’t impossible. Even if her Life Points would still have 200 left after taking the hit, in a Duel where the impact is converted into real damage, it’s common for a Duelist’s body to give out before their Life Points reach zero.
As a Psychokinetic Duelist who couldn’t control her own power, Shizuka had encountered such opponents more than once in the past. Many would instinctively fear her, and the physical pain would often destroy their will faster than the loss of Life Points. Many couldn’t even last until the end of the Duel before collapsing.
Would she be the same?
A bitter irony suddenly washed over Shizuka’s scattered consciousness.
Yes, in the past, she had always been the one to inflict pain on others with her power—though it was never by her own will. But this time, the situation was reversed, and she might be unable to continue the Duel due to the pain before she was defeated.
Perhaps this was some form of karma, a punishment from fate.
If that was the case, then perhaps it would be better to sink into the darkness and accept the punishment.
But Dewain...
Right, she couldn’t just give up. Her own fate didn’t matter, but she had to avenge Dewain.
Shizuka’s heart trembled, and the will for revenge began to restore her fading consciousness.
She remembered Dewain’s tragic death, and scenes from her memories of him began to flash through her mind.
Their first meeting, when Dewain took off her witch’s mask, gently telling her that the mask was no longer needed, that she now had a place to belong.
And when she returned from a mission, Dewain warmly welcomed her home, earnestly telling her:
“Here, you are unique, Shizuka. To us, especially to me, you are irreplaceable.”
That smile was so warm, so reassuring.
Yes, she had to avenge Dewain. She had to wake up, had to continue...
But just as she thought this, the scene in her mind abruptly changed.
The gentle smile on Dewain’s face suddenly twisted, becoming sinister, almost lecherous, as he cackled, “Hehe, Shizuka, you just need to be my Shizuka.
Work for me with all your might, exhaust your worth for me, and quietly die when you have nothing left to give.”
Shizuka: “!”
What is this?
No, Dewain never said such things...
Then the scene shifted to the corridor of the Sanctuary Tower. Shizuka hurriedly caught up with Dewain, pleading, “Please, stop the cruel potential extraction on the new members.
They might not be able to handle it.”
“This is for their own good, Shizuka. To unlock their potential, this is necessary,” Dewain reassured her. “Don’t worry, they are our comrades, just like you. I know what I’m doing; they’ll be fine.”
Shizuka didn’t ask any more.
But the next moment, the scene changed again. Dewain turned around, his face twisted with a sinister grin, and he said in a low, cold voice, “Well, if they can’t handle it, it means they have no value to us, and don’t deserve to be called our comrades.
Only those who can become my weapons are worthy. Let the useless die; no one will care.”
Shizuka: “!!!”
No, this isn’t true. Dewain wouldn’t say such things, he wouldn’t think like that.
“Ah—”
Shizuka staggered back, half-kneeling on the ground, clutching her head in pain as she glared at Youxuan.
“It’s you, right? You’re the one doing this, aren’t you?”
“You’re the one disrupting my memories, showing me these things, right?”
Youxuan tilted his head, smiling innocently, “Well, what are you talking about? I don’t seem to understand.”
“Don’t play dumb!” Shizuka shouted, “It’s you. You’re trying to distort my memories, do you think I’ll believe this?”
But as she said this, Shizuka was inwardly terrified.
Transforming Duel impacts into real damage was something she had seen many times and no longer found strange. But interfering with someone’s mind, invading their brain...
Was such a thing even possible?
“Distort? Really?” Youxuan narrowed his eyes, smiling, “Is it me distorting your memories, or have you had these doubts in your heart all along, just choosing to ignore them?”
Shizuka: “!”
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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