Chapter 166: Natashia
Chapter 166: Natashia
"Electronicalized Ice Blade Hand, I summon you!"
"Electronicalized Ice Blade Hand," Asuka murmured, feeling a mix of emotions. This was one of her favorite monsters from the original series, the very card she had used as her ace during her first duel.
"Indeed," Chief Takahashi smiled. "The Electronicalized Ice Blade Hand was the first monster I designed after specializing in the field of electronicalization. It's a creature that's like a part of my soul."
Asuka's eyes widened in reverence. "So it was your design, Chief Takahashi."
"Yes, and because of that deep connection, I share an unbreakable bond with my electronicalized monsters!" Chief Takahashi played another card. "I activate this card from my hand—the Ritual Spell, 'Ritual of the Cyber Angel'!"
Asuka focused her attention, knowing this card was similar to one in her own deck.
"I offer 'Light Machine God - Sakura Fire' from my hand as a Ritual sacrifice! I Ritual Summon—Level 6, Cyber Angel-Natashia!"
In the Ritual Altar, identical to Asuka's, the image of Light Machine God disappeared, replaced by a blazing fire that spread and erupted skyward.
"Cyber Angel-Natashia has been Ritual Summoned!"
[Cyber Angel-Natashia: ATK 1600]
"When Natashia is summoned, I can add a Magic Card from my Graveyard to my hand!" (Original effect)
A golden light flashed in Chief Takahashi's Graveyard, and a Magic Card reappeared. She drew it and showed it to her opponents: "I retrieve 'Angel's Charity' from my Graveyard and activate it again. I draw three cards and then discard two."
Chief Takahashi's hand was refreshed once more, and she selected two cards to discard.
"I haven't performed my Normal Summon this turn yet."
She selected another card from her new hand.
"I Normal Summon 'Cyber Ballet!' "
[Cyber Ballet: ATK 1000]
Some of the experts in the audience began to express their admiration. "As expected of Chief Takahashi, her mastery of the Cyber-style deck is truly impressive."
"To set up such a formation in a single turn... But isn't she being a bit too serious against her juniors from the Duel Academy?"
". . ."
Yu Xuan, however, only saw how quickly Chief Takahashi was burning through her cards. Though, it wasn't entirely her fault. GX was known as the "Dimension of Card Disadvantage," and duels often played out this way. Especially with the Cyber-style deck from the anime, whether going for a Fusion or Ritual strategy, summoning a single powerful monster typically required trading three cards at the very least.
That was just how the system worked, and you couldn't fault duelists for playing by the rules.
Of course, one shouldn't judge it purely from a competitive card game perspective either. Despite Chief Takahashi having depleted her hand this turn, if she top-decked a "Pot of Greed" next turn and drew six more cards, Yu Xuan wouldn't be surprised. That was just standard procedure here.
"Battle Phase," Chief Takahashi announced. "I won't go easy on you, so give it your all and show me what you've learned! First, 'Electronicalized Ice Blade Hand' attacks 'Cyber Angel-Natashia'!"
The Ice Blade Hand skated forward, its right arm, equipped with a Fusion Weapon, extending suddenly like a drawn blade.
"Cyber Angel-Natashia's effect!" Asuka declared. "When a Ritual Monster I control is targeted for an attack, I can negate that attack!"
A pale blue hemispherical shield appeared before Natashia, a transparent barrier that blocked the incoming attack. The Ice Blade Hand's powerful strike slammed into the barrier, and the fiery impact washed over the watery shield, but it remained unmoved.
"An effect that negates attacks?" Chief Takahashi understood. "I see. No wonder you went through the effort of Ritual Summoning a monster with only 1000 ATK. It's a defensive strategy.
Very well, then. 'Cyber Angel-Vedatic' attacks 'Cyber Angel-Natashia'!"
Vedatic gracefully glided forward, spinning like a top and sweeping out with a leg.
"Wood attribute again," Asuka said. "'Cyber Angel-Natashia' negates attacks targeting Ritual Monsters!"
Once more, the pale blue barrier materialized, and Vedatic's powerful kick landed squarely on the shield, its force seemingly absorbed by the ocean itself.
"I see," Chief Takahashi said, understanding. "It's an absolute defense for the Cyber Angels."
In other words, this monster couldn't be taken down by conventional battle means; it had to be removed through destruction, returning it to the hand, or some other form of removal.
"Interesting," Chief Takahashi said. "I'll end my turn by setting one card face-down."
"My turn, draw!" Asuka declared.
With the opportunity to duel against the Chief Duelist of her own card department and showcase her hard work, Asuka's confidence soared.
It was time to reveal the new possibilities of her Cyber Angels!
"I Normal Summon 'Cyber Petit Angel'!" Asuka played a card.
[Cyber Petit Angel: ATK 200]
This was another card from the anime. In its original form, its effect allowed you to search for the Ritual Spell "Rite of the Cyber Angel" from your deck when it was successfully summoned. Now, with its physical card upgrade, it could search for not just the Ritual Spell but also any "Cyber Angel" monster.
However, Asuka chose not to use the new effect: "Cyber Petit Angel's effect! I add the Ritual Spell 'Rite of the Cyber Angel' from my deck to my hand!"
Asuka immediately played the Ritual Spell she had searched for.
"Ritual Spell, 'Rite of the Cyber Angel,' is activated again! I offer 'Cyber Petit Angel' (Level 2) and 'Cyber Angel-Natashia' (Level 5) from my field as a Ritual Tribute to Ritual Summon this card from my hand, which I added to it last turn with Benten's effect!"
Asuka held up the Ritual Monster in her hand.
"Appear now, Level 6! Cyber Angel-Veddic!"
[Cyber Angel-Veddic: ATK 1600]
The two Veddics faced each other on the field!
"And now, I activate Veddic's effect to retrieve the Ritual Spell 'Rite of the Cyber Angel' from my Graveyard!" Asuka said.
Asuka retrieved the Ritual Spell from her Graveyard.
Chief Takahashi frowned: "Retrieving a Ritual Spell... Are you planning to continue with more Ritual Summons?"
"Field Spell, 'Blessed Church - Ritual Cathedral' effect!" Asuka declared. "Once per turn, by discarding a Magic Card from my hand, I can add a Ritual Monster with the 'Light' attribute from my deck to my hand. I discard a Magic Card to add 'Cyber Angel-Dhurgeni' from my deck to my hand!"
"I see," Chief Takahashi said, nodding in approval of her junior's play. "So you're planning to bring out Dhurgeni now?"
Dhurgeni was another monster developed by their association, and currently the strongest of the Cyber Angels. Chief Takahashi felt proud to see her junior handling this deck with such skill.
But what happened next took her by surprise.
"Effect of 'Cyber Angel-Natashia' in the Graveyard!" Asuka announced. "While this card is in the Graveyard, by excluding from play all other 'Cyber Angel' monsters in my Graveyard except this one, I can Special Summon this card from the Graveyard!"
As Benten's image faded away with a golden light, a vortex opened in the Graveyard, and the four-armed angel returned to the field.
[Cyber Angel-Natashia: ATK 1000]
"Natashia's been resurrected," Chief Takahashi thought aloud. "So, as long as this Cyber Angel is on the field, it blocks all attacks and recovers Life Points each turn. Quite a formidable defense... What?!?"
Chief Takahashi's eyes widened in shock.
In that moment, she witnessed her own Tamashi (soul), the Electronicized Ice Blade Hand she had designed and trusted implicitly, perform an unexpected backflip.
It had switched sides.
Chief Takahashi: "???"
(End of Chapter)
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