Chapter 17: Mech Suppression
Chapter 17: Mech Suppression
Dinosaur Ryuzaki let out a sigh of relief.
Although the Trihorned Demon Dragon had fallen into a trap and was defeated, it was still fortunate. It played with his mind a little, but so far, it was within his expectations.
Ryuzaki was a seasoned duelist who had weathered many storms. Back in the day, he had endured situations like being turned into a fossil by a Time Wizard's Roulette Spin Attack in Block Town. Compared to that, this was a minor setback.
"But my turn isn't over yet."
Ryuzaki drew another card.
"I activate the Continuous Magic Card—'Nightmare's Kaleidoscope' from my hand. This card allows me to draw cards from my deck during my opponent's Standby Phase until I have 4 cards in my hand. However, as a drawback, I must randomly discard the same number of cards during my own Standby Phase."
You Xuan remained expressionless.
As expected of the anime world, he nonchalantly played another banned card as if it were nothing.
"I set two cards in the backrow, and my turn is over."
It was now You Xuan's turn to draw a card. "It's my turn. I draw a card."
"At this moment, the effect of 'Nightmare's Kaleidoscope' activates," Ryuzaki said, "allowing me to draw four cards from my deck."
The power of the banned card was evident as Ryuzaki's empty hand instantly recovered to four cards.
However, You Xuan calmly played the card he had just drawn. "I activate the Magic Card—'Pot of Greed' to draw two more cards from my deck."
It seemed as though everyone had a few banned cards up their sleeves.
After drawing the cards, You Xuan continued, "First, I summon this card I searched last turn."
The monster card was slammed onto the Duel Disk's monster zone, emitting a crisp snap.
"I summon 'Mech Force–Mechanical Skeleton' in attack position."
Mech Force–Mechanical Skeleton: ATK 1800
"I activate the effect of 'Mechanical Skeleton.' When this card is successfully summoned, I can add a 'Mech Force' card other than 'Mechanical Skeleton' from my deck to my hand."
"I see," the commentator Sasaki explained, "the destroyed Peacekeeper had an effect that searched for 'Mechanical Skeleton' when it was destroyed, and 'Mechanical Skeleton' can then search for 'Fortress.' It seems that You Xuan's strategy from the beginning was to set up for this 'Mech Force–Fortress' card!"
"It seems the duel is about to get interesting," Sasaki commented with a smile.
"I add this card from my deck..."
You Xuan revealed the card he had drawn from his deck.
"...'Mech Force–Fortress' to my hand."
He then showed both 'Fortress' and another monster card from his hand.
"Now, I activate the effect of 'Mech Force–Fortress.' Although this card is a Level 7 high-level monster, it can Special Summon itself from my hand or graveyard by discarding Machine-Type 'Mech Force' monsters whose total Levels are 8 or more.
I discard the Level 8 'Mech Force–Super Transformer' from my hand to the graveyard and Special Summon 'Mech Force–Fortress' from my hand!"
A card from his hand was sent to the graveyard, and the heavy alloy fortress appeared on his field. Its thick metal treads, light blue armor, and long cannon seemed to proclaim the creed, "bigger caliber, bigger damage."
Mech Force–Fortress: ATK 2500
"Battle!" You Xuan declared. "First, 'Mech Force–Fortress' attacks the face-down 'Trihorned Demon Dragon'!"
Trihorned Demon Dragon: DEF 2350
The fortress's massive main cannon slowly lowered, locking onto its target. The ammunition was loaded, and with a loud blast and flash, a shell was fired from the cannon. The spinning projectile landed on the face-down card, and the unfortunate Trihorned Demon Dragon was blown to smithereens without ever seeing the light of day again.
"Next, 'Mechanical Skeleton' attacks directly!"
The red mech warrior kicked off the ground, its metallic body riding a transparent cyclone as it charged forward. Ryuzaki hurriedly ducked and covered his head, but he was still knocked over by the image of the alloy kick.
Ryuzaki: LP 2600 → LP 800
The audience erupted into an uproar.
The legendary duelist returning to the arena was expected to dominate the newcomer, but who could have predicted that the tables would turn so dramatically?
Dinosaur Ryuzaki was being suppressed?!
"This is truly an unexpected development," the commentator admitted, his initial predictions shaken.
"Things aren't looking too good for Ryuzaki on the field," commented Kodori.
"Indeed, he's being completely overwhelmed on the field, and his Life Points are down to just 800. On the other hand, You Xuan's Life Points remain untouched."
You Xuan: LP 4000
From the previous matches up until now, You Xuan had been crushing his opponents with overwhelming might. Looking back at all his duels thus far, one would hardly sense any pressure on him.
And now, he was even suppressing Dinosaur Ryuzaki to this extent. Where on earth did this unheard-of monster come from?
"Main Phase 2."
You Xuan's turn continued.
"I activate the second effect of 'Mech Force-Mechanical Skeleton.' Once per turn, this card can be treated as an Equip Card and equipped to a Machine-Type monster on my field.
I equip 'Mechanical Skeleton' to 'Mech Force-Fortress' on my field."
The Mechanical Skeleton leaped up and, with a series of clanging transformation sounds, combined with the Fortress.
"When the equipped monster is destroyed by battle or card effect, Mechanical Skeleton can be destroyed instead," You Xuan explained, "and once per turn, while equipped, Mechanical Skeleton can also be Special Summoned back to my field."
"What a powerful combination!" exclaimed commentator Kodori, "Not only can the Mechanical Skeleton search for the Fortress from the deck, but it can also equip itself to the Fortress, granting it destruction immunity?"
"That's not all," commented Sasaki, "Equipping it also protects the 'Mechanical Skeleton,' preventing Ryuzaki from targeting it as the weaker link.
Furthermore, if You Xuan needs it to attack and assist in a finishing blow next turn, it has the ability to return to the field on its own."
"A well-rounded combination, it's too strong," Kodori couldn't help but say, "This Fujiki You Xuan... Is he really a newcomer?"
Sasaki was momentarily speechless.
"I set two cards on the field."
Two more face-down cards appeared next to You Xuan's feet. He glanced at Ryuzaki's backrow continuous magic card and couldn't help but sigh.
The deck he was currently using had three copies of Dust Tornado, and drawing any one of them before the Battle Phase would allow him to blow away Ryuzaki's "Nightmare's Kaleidoscope." While it wouldn't guarantee victory, it would certainly increase his chances of winning.
Unfortunately, he hadn't drawn a single one.
It seemed like another day where he'd have to rely on luck for draws.
"End of turn." You Xuan declared.
"Damn, he's really going for it," Ryuzaki gritted his teeth.
"It's my turn, draw!"
After the draw phase, it was immediately followed by Ryuzaki's standby phase.
"At this moment, the drawback of 'Nightmare's Kaleidoscope' activates, and normally, I would have to discard four cards from my hand. But!"
Ryuzaki flipped his set trap card.
"I activate the face-down trap, 'Reckless Greed'!
I can draw two cards from my deck, but the drawback is that I must skip the next two of my draw phases."
A card with enormous benefits but equally enormous risks. Ryuzaki drew two more cards because of it.
"Then, I activate the Quick-Play Spell, 'Emergency Provisions'!"
Ryuzaki flipped his second set spell card.
"I can send all Spell and Trap Cards on my field, except 'Emergency Provisions,' to the Graveyard, and for each card sent, I gain 1000 Life Points!
I send the currently activating 'Reckless Greed' and 'Nightmare's Kaleidoscope' to the Graveyard, gaining 2000 Life Points!"
The two cards on his field were enveloped in a golden light and disappeared, their energy absorbed into Ryuzaki's body.
[Ryuzaki: LP 800 → LP 2800]
"Wow, nice move!" Kodori exclaimed, "First, activate Reckless Greed, then chain the trap, Emergency Provisions.
Even though the trap card has already been activated, it remains on the field during the resolution of Emergency Provisions, and can still be used as a cost to gain life points."
"Exactly. He also used Emergency Provisions to send Nightmare's Kaleidoscope to the graveyard, avoiding the drawback of having to discard his hand during his standby phase."
Commentator Sasaki nodded in agreement.
"Ryuzaki is truly Ryuzaki, his dueling prowess is unquestionable."
Ryuzaki wiped his nose, seemingly proud of his skillful play: "What a shame, it looks like your attacks last turn were all for nothing."
However, You Xuan remained unperturbed.
He didn't think it was a high-level play; he was just curious about where Ryuzaki bought his 502.
He had been wondering for a long time now. Why was it that in the anime, whenever duelists played 'Kaleidoscope' and 'Provisions,' they always had 502 together, and he had never seen anyone miss the timing?
(End of Chapter)
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