https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-125-It-s-Better-to-Fight-You-with-This/12557159/
Chapter 126: The Inside Man's Eradication
Chapter 126: The Inside Man's Eradication
"My turn, draw!" Manjome shouted as he drew a card, his expression grim.
Once again, he found himself suppressed on the field, his life points flipped into an unfavorable state. Manjome grit his teeth, determined not to let his efforts and preparations go to waste. He would not allow himself to fall again, not here, and not in front of this opponent.
"I activate the quick-play spell, 'Burial from a Different Dimension'! Return up to 3 banished monsters to the graveyard. I return 'Dark End Dragon' banished by VWXYZ to the graveyard!"
The shadowy silhouette of the black dragon reappeared, sinking back into the swirling vortex of the graveyard.
"Then, I activate the Equip Spell, 'Premature Burial'!"
Manjome revealed a card in his hand. "Pay 800 life points. Select 1 monster in your graveyard and Special Summon it in Attack Position, then equip this card to that monster!"
Manjome: LP 1000 → LP 200
He willingly reduced his life points to a perilous level. A dark vortex erupted in the graveyard, and the sinister black dragon emerged from the surging dark currents for the second time!
"Revive Dark End Dragon!"
[Dark End Dragon: ATK 2600]
A college senior in the audience commented, "With the revival of Dark End Dragon, all he needs to do is use its ability to get rid of VWXYZ, and a direct attack will turn the tables for Manjome."
"Indeed," agreed a fellow student, "Dark End Dragon, Manjome's new ace monster, truly is a formidable beast."
"However, by resurrecting it through such means, Dark End Dragon loses its destruction immunity." You Xuan said, "Trap Card, 'Bottomless Trap Hole'! When your opponent summons a monster with an ATK of 1500 or more, destroy it and banish it from play."
A pitch-black pit opened beneath Dark End Dragon's feet, leading directly to a different dimension. Without Hardened Armed Dragon's immunity, Dark End Dragon was powerless to resist.
"As expected, I knew it wouldn't be that easy!" Manjome shouted. "I activate the quick-play spell, 'Unification of Attributes'! By tributing a Light or Dark Attribute monster on my field, I can Special Summon a monster of the opposite attribute from my hand!"
This was another card used by Manjome in the manga, and its effect had been modified over a decade to make it viable for the real card game.
"I tribute the Dark Attribute 'Dark End Dragon' on my field!"
A storm of darkness engulfed the black dragon, swallowing it in an instant. Then, a dazzling burst of light erupted, a radiant and holy glow that pierced through the dark veil like a rising sun.
"Dispel the darkness and let light shine on the path to victory—
—Shine, Bright End Dragon! ! !"
A massive and majestic dragon emerged from the light, its eyes like sparkling diamonds and its outstretched wings like enormous rays of light. It exuded a dazzling aura, showcasing its holiness, dignity, and strength.
[Bright End Dragon: ATK 2600]
This was the first time Manjome had revealed his new ace monster in public, and its powerful and beautiful form stood in stark contrast to the dark dragon that had just left the field.
"Still holding onto your trap strategies, I see." You Xuan said with a smile, "You've certainly improved."
"Hmph, your infuriating attitude ends here!"
Manjome revealed two more cards in his hand. "Magic Card, 'Tricky Triangle'! By discarding a Level 4 Plant-Type monster from my hand, one of my monsters can attack twice this turn!
I discard 'Killer Tomato' from my hand, allowing Bright End Dragon to attack twice!"
A confused college senior frowned, "But even so, Bright End Dragon's attack isn't higher than God Cannon's. Adding an extra attack won't make a difference."
However, no one doubted that Manjome had something else up his sleeve.
"Battle! Bright End Dragon attacks VWXYZ-God Cannon!"
Spectators: "Attack with a monster that has lower attack?!"
"At this moment, Bright End Dragon's effect activates!" Manjome declared, "During battle, Bright End Dragon's attack decreases by 500 points, and the attack of the monster it's battling decreases by 1500 points until the end of this turn!"
Manjome raised his arm.
"Inflation of Light! ! !"
Blinding white light erupted from the white dragon, engulfing the entire field and shrouding the massive steel machine within it.
[Bright End Dragon: ATK 2600 → ATK 2100]
"Now it's Bright End Dragon's advantage! Destroy that machine!" Manjome said.
The white-hot light pierced through VWXYZ's thick armor like a raging inferno. A series of explosions rocked the impenetrable fusion body, leaving it riddled with holes and resembling a dilapidated fortress battered by storms and rain. It collapsed with a mighty crash.
[You Xuan, LP 1900 → LP 1300]
"This is the last strike!"
Manjome shouted, "Go! Accept the effect of 'Tricky Triangle'! Bright End Dragon, attack again!!
Ascension of Light!!!"
The white light surged like a tidal wave, and within the light screen, countless blades seemed to slash towards You Xuan. At that moment, Manjome held his breath, his eyes wide open as if afraid to miss even a single instant.
Victory was so close...
But it wasn't over yet.
Boom!!!
The intense light collided with an illusory barrier, and a semi-transparent mechanical body appeared in front of You Xuan, blocking his deadly strike.
"What?!?" Manjome exclaimed in shock.
"Kite Man in my graveyard. Direct battle damage from an attack on the player can be reduced to zero once," You Xuan smiled. "'Hand Card Murder' is discarded. It looks like there's a risk to the hand replacement effect for both players."
"Uh," Manjome's face twitched.
Kite...
The feeling of being so close, and finally achieving his long-cherished wish, only to suddenly realize it was all a dream—he needed a fast-acting nitroglycerin pill to calm his heart.
But the advantage was still his!
".So, I'll set one card and end my turn." Manjome said coldly.
He still had one last trick up his sleeve, one last chance.
"My turn, draw." You Xuan said, "Magic Card 'Reverse Book of Adversity'. When your opponent has a specially summoned monster on their field and you have no monsters on your field, draw two cards." (Original card)
After drawing, he revealed one of the cards in his hand.
"Equip Spell 'Dimensional Destruction Cannon-Super Thunder Alliance'! This card can resurrect your own [VWXYZ-Divine Dragon Cannon] from the graveyard, ignoring its summoning conditions, in attack position, and equip this card to it. The equipped monster's effect is negated." (Original card)
This was another support card used by Manjome in the anime that hadn't been made into an actual card.
"According to the effect of this card, [VWXYZ-Divine Dragon Cannon] is resurrected!"
[VWXYZ-Divine Dragon Cannon, ATK 3000]
"Then, from the graveyard, 'Mechanical Corps·Fortress'. This card can be specially summoned from the graveyard by discarding Mechanical-type monsters whose total levels are eight or higher from your hand.
I discard 'Mechanical Corps·Super Deformation' with a level of eight from my hand, and 'Mechanical Corps·Fortress' is resurrected!"
The vortex to the underworld opened, and the well-armed fortress returned to the field.
[Mechanical Corps·Fortress, ATK 2500]
The college senior swallowed her saliva. "In an instant, he's summoned two such powerful upper-level monsters again, changing the situation."
These days, it was quite challenging for most Duelists to summon an upper-level monster. Those who could continuously summon powerful monsters like the two on the field were already considered elite among elites.
Are all the freshmen this year monsters?
"Battle." You Xuan said, "'VWXYZ-Divine Dragon Cannon', attack 'Bright End Dragon'!"
All of the Divine Dragon Cannon's gun barrels locked on, and a brilliant barrage of energy beams and rockets fired simultaneously, the offensive like a roaring fire dragon about to devour the Bright End Dragon.
College Senior: "Knowing the effect of Bright End Dragon, he still chose to attack."
In this situation, it seemed that the Mechanical Corps Fortress should have been the one to attack first.
If the Mechanical Corps Fortress had attacked first, Bright End Dragon would have activated its effect, reducing the Fortress's attack to 1000 and becoming 1600 itself. The Fortress would have been defeated, and You Xuan would have taken 600 points of damage.
Then, when VWXYZ attacked, Bright End Dragon would have activated its effect again, reducing the Divine Dragon Cannon's attack to 1500, but Bright End Dragon would have only had 1100 left. With LP remaining at 200, a successful attack would have meant victory for Manjome.
So why did You Xuan choose to attack with VWXYZ first? Was it a miscalculation?
"I don't know what you're planning, but at this moment, the effect of 'Bright End Dragon' is activated!" Manjome declared, "Decrease its own attack by 500 points and reduce the Divine Dragon Cannon's attack by 1500!
Inflation of Light!"
[Bright End Dragon, ATK 2100 → ATK 1600]
"Damage calculation step, I activate my face-down! Quick-Play Spell, 'Forbidden Holy Grail'! Increase the ATK of a face-up monster on the field by 400 points, and its effects are negated!"
"Oh?" You Xuan quickly understood Manjome's intention. "So, you're negating your own...?"
"Hahahaha! That's right, I'm negating the effect of my own 'Bright End Dragon'!"
Manjome laughed loudly.
"Since the effect of Bright End Dragon becomes invalid, its attack power recovers due to its continuous effect, and it further increases by 400 attack points!"
[Bright End Dragon: ATK 1600 → ATK 2600 → ATK 3000]
The onlookers couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
"He cleverly used a side effect to restore its attack power and even increased it further!"
"The effect of Bright End Dragon decreasing its own attack is a continuous effect. So, once it's negated, its attack power recovers. But its effect of decreasing the opponent's monster's attack power is applied at the activation timing, so the God Cannon's attack will remain at 1500 until the end of the turn."
If the battle were to proceed, You Xuan would take 1500 points of damage, turning the tables for Manjome!
Manjome: "That's it! Bright End Dragon, counter! Ascension of Light!"
"Hold on." You Xuan interrupted with a smile. "I activate my face-down trap, 'Shield Crush'!" (An original card)
A Trap Card used by Yami Yugi (Atem) in the original series, it was the same card that protected Kaiba. It was an old card from the Duel Monsters era.
"Sacrifice one monster on your field. Add the DEF of that monster to the ATK of the attacking monster." You Xuan explained, "Since it's an effect that modifies ATK, I can activate it during the damage calculation step.
Also, since it's during the damage calculation step, even if the number of monsters on the field changes, the attack won't be rewound."
Manjome's expression changed slightly. "What?!?"
"Therefore, I sacrifice 'Mechanical Corps·Fortress,' adding its DEF of 1600 points to 'VWXYZ-God Cannon.'"
The Mechanical Fortress dissolved into a golden light, and its energy flowed into the God Cannon. The once-weakened steel giant instantly regained its power!
[VWXYZ-God Cannon: ATK 1500 → ATK 3100]
The crowd couldn't help but exclaim again, "Its attack power surpassed Bright End Dragon's once more!"
The college senior couldn't help but touch her heaving chest. "In this situation..."
"Damn it!" Manjome's expression twisted.
After coming this far, was he still unable to overcome this hurdle?
But it wasn't over yet.
To activate "Shield Crush," the Mechanical Fortress had been sacrificed, leaving You Xuan with no means to continue his assault. While he couldn't protect Bright End Dragon, he would still have 100 Life Points remaining.
It wasn't the end yet.
"Why do you think I chose to attack with 'VWXYZ-God Cannon'?" You Xuan asked suddenly.
Manjome was taken aback.
Huh?
How am I supposed to know why?
"I don't know why, but I feel like it's more fitting to end our duel with this guy's final attack." You Xuan smiled. "Of course, I have the confidence to finish you off, otherwise, it would be disrespectful to my opponent, right?"
Manjome's pupils constricted.
What does he mean by 'confidence to finish me off'?
At this stage, could there still be a counter?
"I activate a Trap Card from my graveyard, 'Skill Inheritance'!" You Xuan revealed a Trap Card from his graveyard. "During your turn, banish this card from your graveyard, and increase the ATK of a monster you control by 800 points until the end of this turn!"
[VWXYZ-God Cannon: ATK 3100 → ATK 3900]
Manjome's eyes widened in shock.
A Trap Card from the graveyard?! How do you still have tricks up your sleeve in the afterlife?!
Could it be that he had a hand morph from the very beginning?
Manjome felt like he was about to vomit blood.
What kind of insider trick is this?!
"This is the true finale." You Xuan declared, "VWXYZ-God Cannon's attack!
Heavenly Descending Justice!"
A barrage of rockets swept through, and the cannon fire engulfed the entire field. Bright End Dragon was powerless against the onslaught and was swallowed up, causing a series of explosions on Manjome's side of the field.
[Manjome: LP 200 → LP 0]
(End of Chapter)
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