Chapter 202: The Undefeated Puppet
Chapter 202: The Undefeated Puppet
You Xuan sized up the figure before him, wrapped from head to toe with only their eyes visible. Despite their concealed appearance, there was something about them that evoked the image of a robot. Could this be an AI from KaibaCorp?
He immediately drew a connection to the AI he had encountered in the White Dragon Park, the one that had crashed from the strain of their duel.
As if reading his thoughts, the figure sniffed haughtily, "Don't compare me to those inferior computers from KaibaCorp. They are nothing more than duel programs, clumsy imitations of duelists' tactics, devoid of any semblance of a 'heart'. We are different. We are not mere copies; we are designed based on Seto Kaiba's personality, tactics, and experiences, but we have evolved and developed our own consciousness. With each evolution, we grow stronger and more exceptional."
You Xuan's mind drifted to a certain teammate who seemed to have mastered arrogance but lacked any semblance of positive intelligence.
The figure's tone softened slightly, "Well, generally more exceptional."
"So, where's your White Dragon then?" You Xuan inquired.
Alpha stiffened. "I told you, I am not Seto Kaiba. I am merely designed based on him. I have my own tactics."
"So, where's your White Dragon then?" You Xuan repeated with a shrug.
"I already said I'm not Seto Kaiba! Are you deaf? And what's with this obsession with the White Dragon?" Alpha snapped.
"No need to be ashamed if you don't have one. It's not a big deal." You Xuan nonchalantly shrugged again.
Alpha: "..."
You Xuan was slightly taken aback by the mention of being designed based on the KaibaCorp president. It seemed these AIs were mass-produced and not unique.
He recalled Tenma Nightwalker's suspicion that unknown AIs were behind the hacker attacks on KaibaCorp and Industrial Illusions.
It seemed likely that this group was responsible. The "father" these AIs referred to could be their designer and the mastermind behind the scenes.
However, as an AI, it was odd that it didn't use data cards like the program in the White Dragon Park. Drawing from Nightwalker and Guiping's earlier conversation, You Xuan speculated that data cards might restrict the utilization of Destiny Power.
Perhaps self-aware AIs could harness Destiny Power like true duelists. But since the Duel Monster cards themselves possessed extraordinary attributes, not using physical cards and relying solely on simulated data could potentially have an impact.
".My turn, draw." You Xuan refocused on the duel, aware that he couldn't afford to idle for too long.
"During the standby phase, the effect of 'Nightmare Mirage' activates," Alpha declared. "I draw cards until I have four cards in my hand." He proceeded to draw until he had four cards.
"Flip card reveal," You Xuan announced, activating his backrow, "Continuous Trap, 'Reinforcement Revival'. Special Summon a Level 4 or lower monster from the graveyard, increasing its Level by 1 and its ATK by 100 points."
He retrieved a card from his Duel Disk's graveyard. "I revive this card from the graveyard—
"—Magical Beast Cerberus!"
【Magical Beast Cerberus, ATK 1400 → ATK 1500】
"Since it was Special Summoned from the graveyard, the effect of 'Dragon God's Ruins' cannot negate the monster's effect." You Xuan explained.
He then activated a Spell Card. "Spell Card, 'Reinforcements'. Add a Level 4 or lower Warrior-Type monster from my Deck to my hand. I add 'Iron Knight Gearfried' to my hand." You Xuan drew the retrieved monster card.
"Next, I activate the Spell Card, 'Burial Spellbook'. By removing from play the three Spell Cards, 'Reinforcements', 'Hand Destruction', and 'Weapon Hole', which was discarded by Hand Destruction, I draw two cards." (Original Card) You Xuan drew two cards.
"Then, Normal Summon 'Iron Knight Gearfried'!"
【Iron Knight Gearfried, ATK 1800】
Alpha spoke in a low voice, "No matter how many weak monsters you summon..."
Before he could finish, You Xuan interrupted, "You claim to be an AI designed based on the KaibaCorp president, yet your insight into the flow of this duel seems not even a thousandth of his."
"What did you say?" Alpha growled.
"Oh, sorry, just talking to myself. Feel free to ignore me," You Xuan smiled.
He then drew the card he had searched for last turn. "I activate the Equip Spell, 'Butterfly Dagger - Echolation', and equip it to 'Iron Knight Gearfried', granting it 300 ATK points. However, due to the effect of Iron Knight, any Equip Card attached to it will self-destruct, so 'Butterfly Dagger - Echolation' is destroyed."
【Iron Knight Gearfried, ATK 1800 → ATK 2100】
"But in that instant, the effect of 'Magical Beast Cerberus' activates. When a Spell Card is activated, place one Spell Counter on it, and its ATK increases by 500 points for each Spell Counter on it."
【Magical Beast Cerberus, ATK 1500 → ATK 2000】
"Then, the effect of 'Butterfly Dagger - Echolation' activates when this card is destroyed. It returns to my hand. I activate 'Butterfly Dagger - Echolation' again and equip it to Iron Knight."
Only now did Alpha react, his eyes widening in shock as he took two steps back.
"This is... an infinite loop!?"
"That's right," You Xuan confirmed. "As long as I keep activating Butterfly Dagger, this infinite loop will continue, and with each activation, Magical Beast Cerberus gains an additional 500 ATK points.
"Attack power infinity?!" Alpha was terrified.
That's right; if the infinite loop condition is met, you can fast-forward past the process and go straight to infinity. The reason he didn't do this to Watanabe the last time was that, after all, You Xuan had just joined the club and had no grudge against his senior. There was no need to traumatize him with an infinite, face-crushing loss.
After all, You Xuan has always been friendly to others.
However, there was no need to show mercy to an outsider.
"Battle." You Xuan declared, "Magical Beast Cerberus, attack the Radiant Dragon with Arc-Light Courage!"
With its attack power inflated to infinity, the Magidoron now looked like a mythical beast that blotted out the sky. Its sheer presence was enough to sap the courage of anyone with a wavering resolve.
Alpha had no doubt that one swipe from this beast would turn him into a pixelated mess.
However—
"I activate my face-down Trap Card, 'Absorb Shield'!" Alpha declared, "Negate the attack of your monster and gain life points equal to its attack!"
He then threw back his head and let out a three-stage laugh befitting a cosplay club president.
"Hahaha! Didn't expect that, did you? My skills are superior! Now that I've absorbed the Magidoron's attack, my life points will also become infinite!"
A colorful, shimmering barrier appeared in front of him as the Magidoron's claw was about to strike.
"Then, from my hand, I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card, 'Quick Attack Summon,'" You Xuan said as he revealed the monster card in his hand, "allowing me to Normal Summon a monster from my hand." (Original Card)
"I offer up my 'Magidoron-Cerberus' on the field as a Tribute, and perform an Advanced Summon! I call forth the puppeteer who controls the White Magical Marionette—
—Level Five, Marionette Magician, I summon you!"
The massive Magidoron image on the field dissipated into points of light, replaced by a sinister-looking magician whose dancing fingers manipulated white puppet strings, controlling a dual-wielding marionette.
[Marionette Magician, ATK 2000]
"Tch, so you avoided my Absorb Shield by using a Tribute Summon?" Alpha frowned.
Had he anticipated a possible counter-trap in his backrow and deliberately kept a hand that allowed him to dodge the pitfall with a Tribute strategy?
"But neither of your remaining monsters has an attack power that can surpass the 'Arc-Light Brave Dragon,' so you can't break through my defense."
"True."
You Xuan was unfazed.
"Then my Battle Phase ends. I activate the Equip Spell Card, 'Butterfly Dagger - Echolation,' and equip it to 'Iron Knight Gearfried.'
And due to the effect of Iron Knight, the Butterfly Dagger is destroyed."
"Again?!" Alpha was surprised, "But the 'Magidoron-Cerberus' is no longer on the field. Even if you keep looping like this, what's the point?"
You Xuan smiled and pointed to the eerie puppeteer who had just made his appearance, looking like something out of a horror movie.
"The effect of 'Marionette Magician.' Each time a magic card is activated by either player, place one Spell Counter on this card, and its ATK increases by 200 points."
Alpha: "!"
It had the same effect as the Magidoron?!
"Therefore, after the same infinite loop, the attack power of the Marionette Magician becomes..."
[Marionette Magician, ATK 2000 -> ATK ∞]
"Another infinite attack power..." Alpha gritted his teeth.
Was this guy really just a student at the Duel Academy?
How was he pulling off these overpowered attacks left and right?!
But Alpha maintained his composure, "Even so, your Battle Phase has already ended. You can't use that infinite attack power this turn."
"The subsequent effect of 'Marionette Magician,'" You Xuan explained, "By removing two Spell Counters from it, destroy one monster on the field.
So, I remove two Spell Counters from the Marionette Magician and destroy your 'Arc-Light Brave Dragon.'"
The puppeteer's fingertips moved slightly, and the marionette's dual blades flew out, piercing the shining dragon and causing its magnificent body to shatter.
Alpha raised his arm to protect himself and said in a low voice, "Then I activate my face-down Trap Card, 'Revival Assembly'! When a monster on my field is destroyed by an effect, I can revive that monster!
Return, Arc-Light Brave Dragon!"
A shining storm rose into the sky, and the giant dragon took to the air once more!
"And when the Arc-Light Brave Dragon is revived from the graveyard, your remaining Continuous Trap Card, 'Reinforcement Revival,' is removed from play, and my dragon gains 200 attack points!"
[Arc-Light Brave Dragon, ATK 2400 -> ATK 2600]
"What a pity." Alpha said, "Your tactic still didn't work."
"Then I remove two more Spell Counters." You Xuan snapped his fingers, "Destroy the 'Arc-Light Brave Dragon.'"
"What?!"
Alpha was shocked.
This thing can destroy an infinite number of monsters in a turn?!!
Wait a minute...
He immediately realized the severity of the situation.
The Marionette Magician now had an infinite number of Spell Counters on it, resulting in infinite attack power.
The Marionette Magician could remove two Spell Counters to destroy any monster on the field, and there was no limit to how many times this effect could be used in a turn.
Alpha: "..."
Wasn't that... unbeatable?!
(End of Chapter)
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