https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-120-That-s-Very-Kind-of-You-Teacher/12557154/
Chapter 119: Abyss Lockdown
Chapter 119: Abyss Lockdown
"Duel!" x2
[You Xuan, LP: 4000]
[Long Ya, LP: 4000]
"Looks like I'll be going first. Draw!" You Xuan drew a card and immediately played it. "I summon 'Elemental Hero Bubbleman' in defense position!"
[Elemental Hero Bubbleman, DEF: 1200]
Jaden, off to the side: "Huh? You Xuan is using the same Elemental Heroes as me today?"
However, that wasn't the case. You Xuan only included him because he coveted the card-drawing ability of 'Greed-Quiver Dragon', and the fact that it was also a Water-attribute monster meant it could be used as ammunition for "Abyss Soldier's" hand-returning effect when needed.
"Since 'Bubbleman' was the only monster on my field when it was summoned, I can draw two cards." (Animation effect)
"Then I activate the spell card 'Angel's Charity'. I draw three cards and discard two cards from my hand." You Xuan explained, "Then I'll set two cards and end my turn."
"My turn! I draw!" Long Ya drew his card and narrowed his eyes at the 'Bubbleman' on You Xuan's field.
Elemental Heroes, huh? A pretty standard deck. But although he's a first-year student, if Cronos recommended him as my opponent, he must have something impressive up his sleeve.
Long Ya: "I summon 'Mirage Dragon'!"
A gorgeous black dragon from another dimension, a four-star monster with an attack of 2000, and a high-attack lower-level beatstick with no drawbacks—it was indeed a rare and valuable card.
[Mirage Dragon, ATK: 2000]
"Let's see what you're up to! Battle! 'Mirage Dragon' attacks 'Elemental Hero Bubbleman'!" Long Ya declared.
You Xuan immediately flipped a card on his backrow: "I activate my face-down card, the continuous trap 'Super Gravity Net'! All monsters of Level 4 or higher cannot attack!"
A powerful gravity restriction was unleashed from the trap card, instantly suppressing the entire field. Before Mirage Dragon could make a move, it was pinned down by the extraordinary gravity on Long Ya's field, unable to budge an inch.
"Super Gravity Net?" Long Ya frowned.
A lockdown strategy?
But I've never seen anyone pair Elemental Heroes with a lockdown strategy before.
"In that case, I'll set one card and end my turn."
You Xuan: "My turn, draw."
At the same time, a golden light flashed in his Duel Disk's Graveyard, and a monster card automatically popped out.
"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, I can return it to my hand during my preparation phase."
He drew out 'Killer Snake' and returned it to his hand.
"Then I normal summon 'Abyss Soldier'!"
[Abyss Soldier, ATK: 1800]
Seeing the aquatic warrior with a trident emerging from the curtain of water, Long Ya furrowed his brows slightly.
So it's not just Elemental Heroes?
"Abyss Soldier's' monster effect allows me to discard a Water-attribute monster card from my hand to return one card on the field to its owner's hand."
You Xuan revealed the 'Killer Snake' that had just returned to his hand.
"I discard 'Killer Snake' to the Graveyard and return 'Mirage Dragon' to your hand."
The Abyss Soldier brandished its trident, and a vortex of water erupted from under its feet. Riding the water flow, Mirage Dragon transformed back into a card and flew back into Long Ya's hand.
Long Ya: "!"
He immediately realized that the infinitely recyclable 'Killer Snake' could be used as a cost for Abyss Soldier's effect every turn, essentially making this hand-returning effect costless. "So, it was this troublesome combo."
Long Ya frowned and coldly huffed.
"It's a decent combo, I admit. But don't forget, both 'Bubbleman' and 'Abyss Soldier' are Level 4 monsters, and with your own 'Super Gravity Net' on the field, they can't attack either."
He pushed up his glasses and chuckled softly.
"What a pity. Despite clearing my field, you can't attack. Seems like the 'Super Gravity Net' lockdown is backfiring on you, You Xuan. Your tactics could use some refinement."
"Thank you for your guidance, sir." You Xuan remained polite and courteous, "But I have a little trick up my sleeve, too. I activate the spell card 'Terraforming' from my hand, allowing me to add a field spell from my deck to my hand.
"Field Spell: 'Legendary City of Atlantis'!"
An extra slot popped out on one side of his Duel Disk.
"I activate it directly!"
A stereoscopic projection of seawater immediately engulfed the entire field, as if immersing the entire arena beneath the ocean. The ancient lost city surrounded them, with dazzling sunlight piercing through the water's surface, creating a long and brilliant path of light within the watery depths.
"As long as 'Legendary City of Atlantis' remains on the field, the Levels of all Water-Attribute monsters on both sides' fields and in their hands are reduced by one, and the ATK of all Water-Attribute monsters is increased by 200 points!" You Xuan explained.
[Elemental Hero Bubbleman, 4 stars → 3 stars, ATK 800 → ATK 1000]
[Abyss Soldier, 4 stars → 3 stars, ATK 1800 → ATK 2000]
Long Ya: "What?!?"
The substitute teacher immediately realized the terrifying potential of this combination.
The Legendary City could reduce the Levels of Water-Attribute monsters, causing the Abyss Soldier and Bubbleman to barely slip under the restriction of Super Gravity Net. As a result, You Xuan's monsters were now free to attack, while Long Ya found himself on the receiving end of a self-imposed lockdown.
This was also one of the standard combos used by the infamous [Abyss Control] strategy. To some extent, it showcased the tactical style of this control-oriented deck—the Abyss Soldier's combination with "Royal Decree" to achieve one-way trap lockdown, and the synergy between "Super Gravity Net" and "Legendary City" for a one-way attack lockdown, both reflected a single-minded approach to field control through oppressive restrictions.
In fact, there were many similar small combos in this deck, each designed to suppress the opponent's ability to attack, summon monsters, or use magic and trap cards. It was a classic example of the type of deck that would frustrate opponents the more they dueled against it in the early competitive environment.
Moreover, the Abyss Soldier, already boasting a respectable ATK of 1800, was further enhanced to 2000 ATK by the field spell. This meant that in order to destroy it in battle, Long Ya would have to summon a monster with an ATK of 2000 or more and a Level lower than three.
Sitting in the stands, Tenjoin Asuka paused for a moment before commenting, "It's indeed a tactic that bears his distinctive style."
"Indeed."
Sanzu, a fellow member of the 'Victims of You Xuan's Duels' club, appeared at some point and nodded in agreement, his arms crossed.
"Fujiki You Xuan... He's the kind of Duelist who, given two options to win, will invariably choose the one that prevents his opponent from dueling at all."
"Mhm," Asuka nodded, sharing the sentiment.
Long Ya: "..."
Indeed, his blood pressure was beginning to show signs of creeping upward.
"I switch 'Elemental Hero Bubbleman' to Attack Position," You Xuan continued, "and we're now in the Battle Phase. 'Abyss Soldier,' attack directly!"
The Abyss Soldier brandished its trident and surged forward, a vortex of water swirling around the golden prongs as it thrust straight for Long Ya's face.
"Not so fast!" Long Ya interjected. "I activate my face-down Trap Card, 'Hero Visit'! When you declare an attack, randomly select a card from my hand. If it's a Monster Card, Special Summon it to my field. If not, send it to the Graveyard!"
It was a Trap Card often used by Judai in the anime. Although its name contained the word "hero," it was unrelated to the Elemental Hero archetype and could be used in any deck.
Long Ya had five cards in his hand.
You Xuan casually pointed, "Then, the second card from the left."
"Hahaha! Unfortunately for you, that card is..."
Long Ya revealed the selected card from his hand.
"Level 6, Dark Triad Dragon!"
[Dark Triad Dragon, ATK 2400]
"As expected of a teacher, you don't make it easy to land an attack," You Xuan chuckled. "In that case, I'll retract my Battle Phase and move to Main Phase 2."
He drew another card from his hand.
"I'll set another card face-down, and that's the end of my turn."
(End of Chapter)
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