Chapter 14: The Reclusive Duelist
Chapter 14: The Reclusive Duelist
Kajiki exhaled a long, heavy breath. He was truly foolish, without a doubt.
He had watched yesterday's match, and simply assumed that the Reaper of the Underworld would send his monsters to another dimension as he had done to Manjome. Never did he expect that this time, his opponent would change tactics and resort to reclusiveness.
But why does this guy have so many different Underworld tactics?
A proper head-on collision is out of the question, right? Kajiki finally realized that he was facing a dog, not a human. His Perfect Machine King on the field hadn't attacked yet, and even if it did, it would be pointless.
The effect of the Guardian Force's ability didn't specify once per turn. Even if he could summon five monsters at once and attack, he would only be caught in an endless loop of "place a counter - remove a counter - battle destruction invalid."
Helpless, he could only end his turn with a glare.
Now it was You Xuan's turn again. Without hesitation, he entered the battle phase without summoning any monsters. The Magic Attacker soared arrogantly over the opponent's field and unleashed a bombardment.
At the moment of the attack, the effect of the Guardian Force triggered again, adding a magic counter. The effect of the Magic Attacker returned to 1100, and its first attack dealt a critical hit of 1100 damage.
[Kajiki, LP 3400 → LP 2300]
"I'll set one card and end my turn." You Xuan declared.
"Damn... It's my turn now."
Kajiki's sense of crisis deepened. He had to find a way to deal with that damnable combination, or he might truly be pecked to death by those attacks.
"Draw!"
As Kajiki drew his card, a wild laugh escaped his lips as he glanced at it.
"Hahaha! A flawless combo achieved through the complementary effects of equipment and monsters is indeed a brilliant tactic. But! My countermeasure is even more brilliant! I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card—Whirlwind! This card allows me to destroy one Magic or Trap Card on the field. I choose to destroy 'Guardian Force'!"
A pitch-black whirlwind arose, shattering the Magic Card on You Xuan's field into fragments. The golden aura shield surrounding the Magic Attacker dissipated, and its Attack Points returned to normal.
Kajiki had researched his opponent beforehand and noticed that this You Xuan fellow was likely a reclusive player who seemed to favor those red cards that could cripple an opponent's ability to function in daily life.
Thus, his deck was packed with three copies of Whirlwind and one "Big Storm," specifically targeting reclusive strategies.
[Magic Attacker, ATK 1100 → ATK 600]
"A clever tactic, but that Magic Card itself is the weak point of your strategy." Kajiki gloated, "It's my turn to battle! Go, Perfect Machine King! Crush that disgusting little pest!"
The Machine King, as if sharing his impatience, eagerly flew forward at his command, raising its iron hammer to smash that detestable tiny creature into smithereens.
"I activate a face-down card."
You Xuan snapped his fingers, and a card flipped open on his field.
"Continuous Trap Card—Super Gravity Net. As long as this card is face-up on the field, neither player can attack with Level 4 or higher monsters."
Kajiki: "..."
You son of a...
Kajiki's current feeling was as if ten thousand Lava Golems were rampaging through his heart. He had one four-star and one eight-star monster on his field, and the Whirlwind he had just drawn was already used on Guardian Force, effectively sealing all his monsters from attacking.
But he still had a way out!
"I Normal Summon 'Dark Thrower' in face-down defense position."
[Dark Thrower, DEF 1500]
"End turn."
"I see, so you have another trick up your sleeve." You Xuan remarked with understanding.
He recognized that card from the anime where Yugi Mutou used it. Simply put, its effect allowed him to destroy a Magic or Trap Card on the opponent's field during his next turn.
In other words, if this creature survived until his next turn, he could blow up the "Super Gravity Net" on You Xuan's field, breaking the lockdown and launching an attack.
This was also part of Kajiki's adjustments for this duel—it was his desperate attempt as a duelist from the world of the living, facing a reclusive strategy from the Underworld.
But it didn't matter.
"My turn, draw." You Xuan drew his card and wasted no time, "I activate the Continuous Magic Card 'Level Restriction B' from my hand.
As long as this card remains on the field, all Level 4 or higher monsters on both players' fields are treated as face-down Defense Position."
[Mechanical Sergeant, ATK 1600 → DEF 1800]
[Perfect Machine King, ATK 3700 → DEF 1500]
Kajiki spat blood.
How the heck do you have that card, bro?! Kajiki was flabbergasted. He never imagined someone could play cards in such a reclusive manner; did this guy come here to duel or to take revenge on society?
"However, just in case, I activate the Spell Card 'Shield Crush' and destroy one face-up Defense Position monster on the field. I destroy 'Dark Thrower'." You Xuan declared.
Kajiki: "..."
It didn't end there.
"Then, I summon 'Messenger of Aliens' in Attack Position."
[Messenger of Aliens, ATK 700]
"This card's effect is the same as Magic Attacker, and it can also directly attack." You Xuan paused and smiled slightly, "By the way, Messenger of Aliens is also Level 3, so it's unaffected by both 'Level Restriction B' and 'Super Gravity Net'."
Kajiki: "..."
He wanted to say, no, that thing of yours is not a Messenger of Aliens.
It's a Messenger of the Underworld.
"Magic Attacker, Messenger of Aliens, direct attack!"
A brutal one-two punch!
Perfect Machine King and Mechanical Sergeant could only watch helplessly as these two weirdos flew past their heads in a dazzling display, taking turns pressing their owner to the ground and frantically rubbing against him.
The monsters were frustrated and angry, but there was nothing they could do.
[Kajiki, LP 2300 → LP 1000]
Kajiki remained silent, but the veins on the back of his hand and forehead were popping out, and his face was turning red with anger.
"I set one card and end my turn."
"My turn."
Kajiki took a deep breath.
Stay calm, he told himself. Just as the Gym Leader had taught him, the more critical the situation, the calmer he must be. The outcome of a duel is never certain until the very last second.
He needed to have faith in his deck and remember the daily draw training he had practiced tirelessly.
Now was the time to validate the fruits of his training.
Kajiki closed his eyes and murmured to himself.
Please let me draw that Wind card again!
"Draw!"
In the next moment, Kajiki nearly jumped out of his skin.
This draw had created a miracle!
"I activate the Spell Card 'Big Storm' from my hand!" Kajiki raised the card high like a priest offering a sacrifice, "Destroy all Magic and Trap Cards on the field!"
Big Storm, the ultimate backfield cleaner, indiscriminately wiping the field.
"I really did draw the Wind card this turn," You Xuan muttered to himself, "So even the bystanders in the anime world get divine draws in desperate situations?"
But...
You Xuan snapped his fingers.
"I activate my face-down card. Counter Trap—Anubis's Judgment."
Kajiki was still laughing: "Yes! Big Storm is the ultimate nemesis of Magic and Trap Cards! In the face of a big wind, everything... Wait, what's that?"
"Anubis's Judgment can only be activated when your opponent activates a Magic Card that includes the effect of destroying Magic or Trap Cards on the field."
You Xuan calmly explained.
"Discard one card from your hand to negate the activation of that Magic Card and destroy it. Then, after that, choose one face-up monster on your opponent's field, destroy it, and inflict damage to your opponent equal to the ATK of the destroyed monster."
Kajiki's eyes went wide.
Negating the activation of Big Storm and still being able to destroy another monster, dealing damage equal to its ATK...
". . ."
What the heck?!
As the shockwave of this realization hit him, the storm dissipated under some invisible curse. Black mist filled the field, taking the form of the fearsome Anubis, glaring at Kajiki's field.
"According to its effect, I will destroy your Perfect Machine King." You Xuan waved his hand, "Take 3700 points of damage, the ATK of Perfect Machine King!"
Anubis opened its mouth, and a black, terrifying breath gushed out. The body of the Machine King instantly melted within it, and the powerful dark current continued unabated, engulfing Kajiki as well.
"Ahhhhhh!!!"
The impact of 3700 points of damage sent Kajiki flying, and even as he fell, his eyes remained wide open, as if he were refusing to die with his eyes closed.
It was as if he wanted to shout, even if nailed into a coffin and buried underground, with a decaying voice—
—I have never seen such a vengeful duelist!
[Kajiki, LP 1000 → LP 0]
(End of Chapter)
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