https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-125-It-s-Better-to-Fight-You-with-This/12557159/
Chapter 124: Manjoume's Evolution?
Chapter 124: Manjoume's Evolution?
As the finals commenced, a larger crowd had gathered around the Duel Monsters club venue, eagerly awaiting the upcoming match.
"It looks like Manjoume is up against Fujiki You Xuan. They're both newcomers who've been gaining a lot of attention this year."
"Haven't you heard? This match is a grudge battle. They've dueled each other before."
"Really? When was that?"
"Before they enrolled, during the Moon Festival Cup. Manjoume made it to the top eight before he was knocked out."
". . ."
At that moment, the senior club member had taken a seat in the elevated spectator area, offering her analysis: "However, I've been observing him since he joined the club, and he's quite different from when he first started."
Her companion beside her asked curiously, "How so?"
"From his deck to his tactics, there are many aspects that I can't quite describe. I suppose you could say it's a holistic transformation. But as for how much stronger he's become, it's hard to say."
"Well, since it's a grudge match, I'm sure Manjoume doesn't want to lose this time either," she added, anticipation flashing in her eyes.
"Let's see where this duel will take us."
Both duelists had now arrived at the finals venue.
"Thanks to you, I had a hard time facing my brothers after the last match," Manjoume said in a low voice. "But this time will be different."
"Funny, I was thinking the same thing. Today won't be like the last time."
You Xuan smiled and unfolded his dueling disk.
"Your composure won't last," Manjoume huffed. "Since enrolling, I've undergone a metamorphosis. It's time for you to witness my elite dueling style, a style that surpasses my former self!"
"Duel!" x2
[You Xuan, LP: 4000]
[Manjoume, LP: 4000]
"I'll start the first turn by drawing a card!" Manjoume declared. "I activate the magic card 'Magical Stone Excavation'! I draw two cards, but during the turn this card is activated, I cannot activate any other magic cards or set cards on the field." (Anime-only card) He added the drawn cards to his hand and then drew another card from his deck.
"I summon 'Doru Dora' in defense position!"
[Doru Dora, Defense: 1200]
"End turn."
"My turn, draw!" You Xuan said.
He revealed two cards from his hand.
"I activate the effect of 'Mechanical Corps Fortress' in my hand. This card can be special summoned from the hand or graveyard by discarding mechanical monsters whose total levels are eight or higher. I discard the level seven 'Mechanical Corps Fortress' and the level four mechanical monster 'V-Jet Tiger' from my hand to the graveyard."
"From the endless warfires, an impenetrable fortress emerges—'Mechanical Corps Fortress,' I summon!"
The heavy tank treads rolled across the field, its thick and heavy cannon locking onto its target as the massive fortress took its place in front of You Xuan.
[Mechanical Corps Fortress, Attack: 2500]
Manjoume frowned. "Is your deck a mechanical alliance combination?"
At this moment, Manjoume didn't realize that the "V-Jet Tiger" that had been discarded was, in a sense, a deck that had been snatched away from him.
In a sense, it could be described as a time-transcending NTR.
"Mechanical Corps Fortress, attack 'Doru Dora'!"
The cannon of the mechanical corps fell, and the golden blast was entwined with dancing arcs of electricity. The draconic body was pierced, exploding into smithereens on the spot.
"I'll set two cards and end my turn."
"At this moment, during the End Phase, the effect of 'Doru Dora' activates!" Manjoume explained. "'Doru Dora' can be special summoned with its Attack and Defense becoming 1000 during the End Phase when it is destroyed and sent to the graveyard. However, this effect can only be used once per duel!"
[Doru Dora, Defense: 1000]
This was a favored card in the early real card environment as well. Its "last words" could be triggered whether it was destroyed by battle or effect, and in the early stages, it wasn't easily removed from the field. Additionally, its regeneration ability activated during the End Phase, making it even more challenging to interfere with.
You Xuan assessed the regenerated "Doru Dora" on Manjoume's field.
Another dragon-type—was he trying to emulate Manjoume's path from the manga worldline?
In the manga, Manjoume was a true rival, far more impressive than his comedic portrayal in the anime. Ever since obtaining his exclusive sprite, "Light and Darkness Dragon," Manjoume had become unbeatable by Judai in the manga. Even in the final battle against the main antagonist, Judai and Manjoume teamed up in a two-on-one fight, giving Manjoume a significant role.
If Manjoume could evolve in this direction, it would be a good thing.
"My turn!"
Manjoume drew a card.
It was "Bottomless Trap Hole."
You Xuan was not surprised; he merely shrugged. After all, it was expected that Manjoume's deck would be filled with various traps, given their previous duel.
"Next, I activate the magic card 'Hand Destruction'! Both players discard their entire hands and then draw the same number of cards they discarded."
You Xuan obliged, discarding and redrawing his hand along with Manjoume.
"Then, I activate the magic card 'Cost Down'! Discard an 8-star monster from your hand, then draw 2 cards!" Manjoume declared. "From my hand, I discard 'Tyrant Dragon.'"
He drew a monster card and sent it to the Graveyard.
". . . and then I draw two more cards!"
He drew the cards with force, the invisible whirlwind lifting the hem of his blue uniform like a cape.
Glancing at one of the two cards he drew, Manjoume's lips curled up.
"Here it is."
"Ever since we met again at this academy, I've thought about nothing but that moment during the Moon Festival Cup, and countless nights have passed where I couldn't sleep because of it," Manjoume said.
"Why have you been thinking about me every night?" You Xuan asked, feigning surprise.
A vein appeared on Manjoume's forehead, and he was about to lose his temper, but he immediately suppressed his anger.
No, this was the other guy's trick. Losing his composure was a minor issue, but losing control of the duel was a major one. He must not fall for it.
". . . Today will be the day I overcome this obstacle and continue moving forward. Watch as I completely crush you with my newfound, most powerful strength, and bury my shameful past!
I activate the effect of 'Hard Armor Dragon' in my hand! By discarding a Level 8 or higher monster from my hand, I can Special Summon this card from my hand!
I discard the Level 8 'Alternate Universe Dragon' from my hand and Special Summon 'Hard Armor Dragon'!"
[Hard Armor Dragon, ATK: 1500]
"You have quite a few high-level monsters in your hand," You Xuan remarked.
However, this card was familiar to him.
Hard Armor Dragon—a card that provided significant protection to higher-level monsters in the early Yu-Gi-Oh! meta. Its effect prevented summoned monsters from being destroyed by card effects, rendering many common removal and field-clearing magic and trap cards ineffective. In that era, this protection was quite substantial.
Of course, in the modern game, even monsters with the effect of "unaffected by other card effects" often struggled to hold their ground.
It was evident that Manjoume had put considerable effort into countering You Xuan's strategies. His deck included a variety of traps, and his monster effects offered different types of resistance.
Manjoume raised a card in his hand, and in that moment, it seemed as if dark currents were swirling around his arm.
"Behold, the embodiment of my newfound, most potent strength!
I tribute 'Doru Dora' and 'Hard Armor Dragon' on the field! From the endless darkness, the End Dragon emerges—a terrifying entity forged from the very essence of darkness itself! Its scales shimmer with an eerie light, as if they were forged from the essence of the night, forming an impenetrable, pitch-black armor.
Darkness Dragon Knight, I summon you!!!"
A towering vortex of darkness swirled, as if the very embodiment of darkness itself had taken form. Each scale glimmered with a chilling light, like the essence of the night, forming an impenetrable, ebony armor.
[Darkness Dragon Knight, ATK: 2600]
"Ah!" You Xuan exclaimed, taken aback.
He had to admit that he was a bit startled by this move.
His first reaction was, "Why are you able to use a Synchro Monster?"
However, he quickly remembered, "Oh, right. Darkness Dragon Knight is originally an Effect Monster in the source material."
In the GX manga, "Shining Dragon Knight" and "Darkness Dragon Knight" were similar to Manjoume's ace card, "Light and Darkness Dragon," representing the light and dark aspects. They were both eight-star upper-level monsters in Manjoume's deck.
But when they were made into physical cards, they were modified into Synchro Monsters, and You Xuan had almost forgotten about their original effects.
"This is the embodiment of my power—the Darkness Dragon Knight!" Manjoume proclaimed, his uniform fluttering in the wind as he stood proudly before his summoned monster.
"Today, I shall overcome this hurdle and continue my journey forward!"
(End of Chapter)
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