Chapter 13: A Dog, Perhaps?
Chapter 13: A Dog, Perhaps?
You Xuan: LP 4000
Kajiki Makoto: LP 4000
Fortune smiled upon Kajiki today as he won the dice roll for first turn. With a confident air, he drew his opening hand and his eyes lit up.
It was a perfect set of cards.
While most of You Xuan's previous opponents had underestimated him due to his unimpressive resume, Kajiki Makoto was not among them. He had watched You Xuan's previous matches, especially the quarter-final against Wan Zhangmu, and though he recognized his opponent's skill, he saw him more as a tricky and opportunistic player. In his opinion, You Xuan's strength was overrated.
"Hmph, as long as I know your tactics and prepare accordingly, there's nothing to fear." Kajiki declared, his voice filled with determination. "My turn!"
With high spirits, he slammed down a card, signaling his intention to fuse. He combined "Mechanical Sergeant" and "Mechanical King" from his hand, performing a fusion summon to bring forth an eight-star behemoth, the "Perfect Mechanical King".
In the physical card game, this card had been modified into an Effect Monster, but in the anime, it was originally a Fusion Monster. Its effect in the source material boosted the attack of all Mechanical-type monsters on the field by 500 points, and being a Mechanical-type itself, it boasted a base attack of 3200.
Perfect Mechanical King: ATK 2700 → ATK 3200
With his deck's ace on the field, Kajiki felt he had already secured half the battle. Starting with a Blue-Eyes White Dragon-like monster and a 200-point beatdown, how could he lose?
Then it was You Xuan's turn.
Unfazed, You Xuan summoned Giant Rat. A mutated, fluffy giant rat leaped onto the field, baring its teeth at its opponent and emitting a fierce low growl.
Giant Rat: ATK 1400
You Xuan then waved his hand, issuing a command: "Giant Rat, attack 'Perfect Mechanical King'!"
Giant Rat: "?"
Its bewildered gaze seemed to ask, 'Are you serious, brother? Its attack is more than twice mine!'
'Why didn't you ask me to bring back the Tang Monk and his disciples instead?'
But an order from its master was an order, and the giant rat could only steel itself and ram into the Mechanical King, an outcome that was as expected as the rat being blown to smithereens.
You Xuan: LP 4000 → LP 2200
This opening suicide attack left both his opponent and the audience stunned.
What did this mean? Were duelists nowadays so polite that they started off by gifting their opponents some LP?
Could it be that the gym had secretly paid for an actor to lose on purpose?
But Kajiki soon understood. The giant rat that had just self-destructed had a death effect. When Giant Rat is destroyed by battle and sent to the graveyard, you can special summon a monster with an ATK of 1500 or less from your deck.
Hearing this effect, Kajiki could only laugh inwardly.
Attack of 1500 or less? Those were all weaklings!
"Special summon this card from my deck." You Xuan revealed the card he had searched for, "Magic Attack Soldier!"
Magic Attack Soldier: ATK 600
A tiny creature that looked like it had jumped out of a chibi cartoon hopped onto the field, waving a tiny scepter. Its art style and diminutive stature made it seem like it was there just to be cute.
"The effect of Magic Attack Soldier allows it to attack my opponent directly." You Xuan gestured, "Direct attack!"
Kajiki Makoto: LP 4000 → LP 3400
Unfazed by the 600 points of damage, Kajiki scoffed, "Hmph, is that all? That's barely a tickle."
Clearly, he hadn't grasped the gravity of the situation.
You Xuan smiled. "My Battle Phase ends here. Additionally, I activate the Equip Spell 'Guardian's Power' from my hand, equipping it to Magic Attack Soldier. End turn."
As the audience watched, Magic Attack Soldier was enveloped in a golden aura, but its attack remained unchanged, leaving Kajiki perplexed.
Was that equipment just for show?
In this world, players couldn't instantly view each other's card effects like in You Xuan's past life. They had to recognize and remember the effects themselves to understand and respond to them promptly.
[Mechanical Sergeant: ATK 1600]
"Since there are now two Machine-type monsters on my field, the attack of 'Perfect Mechanical King' increases by another 500 points!"
[Perfect Mechanical King: ATK 3200 → ATK 3700]
Kajiki Makoto waved his hand, "Attack 'Magic Attack Soldier' with 'Mechanical Sergeant'!"
As the Mechanical Sergeant stepped forward, before it could even make a move, the golden aura surrounding the Magic Attack Soldier began to shimmer.
"At this moment, the effect of 'Guardian's Power' is activated." You Xuan explained, "When a battle is declared involving the monster equipped with 'Guardian's Power', I can place one Spell Counter on this card.
Furthermore, for each Spell Counter on 'Guardian's Power', the Attack of the equipped monster increases by 500 points."
[Guardian's Power: Spell Counters 0 → 1]
[Magic Attack Soldier: ATK 600 → ATK 1100]
"Hmph, this measly boost in attack is nothing!" Kajiki Makoto scoffed, "Continue the battle, Mechanical Sergeant, destroy that weak monster!"
However, as the metal fist lunged forward, it only created a faint ripple of golden light. When the ripple dissipated, the Magic Attack Soldier still stood unwavering, untouched.
Kajiki Makoto: "!"
Why?!
"The other effect of 'Guardian's Power'," You Xuan continued, "When the equipped monster would be destroyed, by removing a Spell Counter from the field, the destruction by battle or card effect becomes negated."
[Guardian's Power: Spell Counters 1 → 0]
[Magic Attack Soldier: ATK 1100 → ATK 600]
Kajiki Makoto: "?"
Wait a minute...
"Didn't you just say that 'Guardian's Power' can only place Spell Counters during the attack declaration of the equipped monster?" Kajiki interjected, thinking he had found a loophole, "But clearly, it was my monster that initiated the attack, and your monster never made an attack declaration. How can you still activate its effect?"
He began to suspect that he might have been outplayed.
"Are you new to Dueling?" You Xuan asked condescendingly, taking on the tone of a veteran player explaining the basics to a novice, "The description of 'Guardian's Power' doesn't say 'place a Spell Counter when the equipped monster declares an attack'. It says 'place a Spell Counter during the attack declaration phase when a battle involving the equipped monster occurs'."
Kajiki: "?"
What's the difference?
"Whether it's your turn to attack or mine, as long as our monsters engage in battle, there will always be an 'attack declaration phase'. So, whenever our monsters battle, the effect to place Spell Counters is triggered."
You Xuan patiently continued to elucidate the intricacies of K-language to his opponent.
Kajiki: "!"
What?! Then isn't that effect invincible?!
Whenever it's attacked, Spell Counters are added, and by removing those counters, destruction is negated. Doesn't that make the equipped monster practically immortal?!
"Hold on."
Kajiki's brows furrowed as he realized there was more to this than met the eye.
"But battle damage should still be calculated, right?" he asked, his doubt growing.
"Oh, that's the effect of 'Magic Attack Soldier' itself," You Xuan clarified, "Whenever 'Magic Attack Soldier' battles, any battle damage I would take becomes 0."
Kajiki: "?!?"
Wait, that's not right... Something's very wrong here.
Because it's equipped with "Guardian's Power", no matter how it's attacked, the Magic Attack Soldier is indestructible.
And because of the Magic Attack Soldier's own effect, Kajiki doesn't take any battle damage.
On top of that, the Magic Attack Soldier can directly attack Kajiki, and due to the effect of "Guardian's Power", the more attacks it makes, the stronger it becomes.
Whoosh~
Kajiki inhaled sharply, his face paling in shock.
Whoever came up with such an underhanded strategy...
Must be a dog?!
(End of Chapter)
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