Chapter 280: Shadows of Chaos
Chapter 280: Shadows of Chaos
In response, You Xuan activated Mirror Force, summoning a semi-transparent, sacred blue barrier that stood between him and the approaching dragon's breath of light and darkness.
"What?" Manjome frowned, "Useless. I told you, no number of traps would work against the Light and Darkness Dragon. Decrease its attack by 500 points and let me negate Mirror Force... Huh?!"
Manjome's eyes widened as he watched the Light and Darkness Dragon ignore his command and continue to spew its breath toward the reflective shield. His heart sank.
Why? Why didn't the effect activate?
"Retract your previous statement. It seems you don't fully understand the power of your new friend yet," You Xuan said with a smile.
While negating effects may sound overpowered, it's not as effective in practice as one might imagine. The Light and Darkness Dragon's ability has a hidden restriction—'This effect can only be used once per chain.'
In later generations, this rule was clearly written on the card's text, but the old version lacked this detail. K Corporation only specified in the ruling that 'this effect can only be used once per chain.'
During the attack declaration, You Xuan first activated 'Interdimensional Matter Transporter' to change his opponent's battle position, forcing the mandatory activation of the Light and Darkness Dragon's effect to negate it. However, You Xuan quickly chained with 'Mirage Mirror Force.'
Since it was activated during the same chain as the attack declaration, the negation effect of the Light and Darkness Dragon had already been used on 'Interdimensional Matter Transporter,' rendering it unable to respond to the activation of Mirror Force.
"Well, even the Light and Darkness Dragon has its weaknesses. Remember this fact from now on. Don't mention it," You Xuan said with a smile.
"The effect of Mirror Force resolves, destroying all attack position monsters your opponent controls." You Xuan waved his hand, sweeping away the monsters from Manjome's field.
"Thus, 'Armed Dragon LV10' and 'Light and Darkness Dragon' are destroyed!"
The Light and Darkness Dragon, defeated!
"Ugh," Manjome's expression darkened.
His strongest ace, the invincible Light and Darkness Dragon, had been countered. It was only then that Manjome realized his mistake.
So, it can't be activated a second time on the same chain. That's indeed a significant weakness for the Light and Darkness Dragon.
But the problem was, if even he didn't know about this, how could You Xuan?
Looking at You Xuan again, Manjome felt that this person was becoming increasingly inscrutable. It seemed that every time he thought he had made significant progress and confidently tried to regain the upper hand, he would discover that his opponent had hidden far more tricks than he had anticipated.
He wondered if, despite his efforts, the gap between them had not narrowed at all. No, that was impossible.
He refused to accept that fact.
"The final effect of the Light and Darkness Dragon!" Manjome shouted. "When this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, destroy all cards on the field and Special Summon 1 monster from your Graveyard!"
The spectators once again held their breath.
Could this dragon, already so powerful, have another hidden ability?
Manjome drew out a card returned from the Graveyard.
"Returning from the Graveyard once more—
—Armed Dragon LV5!"
[Armed Dragon LV5: ATK 2400]
Armed Dragon LV7 and LV10 had strict summoning conditions. Aside from LV-specific cards like "Level Modulation" that ignored summoning conditions, they couldn't be Special Summoned from the hand or deck using other card effects.
"Direct attack from Armed Dragon LV5!"
The Armed Dragon's claws descended, sending a red whirlwind toward You Xuan.
"Then, I discard 'Squirrel Token' from my hand," You Xuan said. "Reduce battle damage to 0."
"Curry!"
Squirrel Token scurried onto the field, but the Armed Dragon's claws still found their mark, though to no avail.
Still unsuccessful? Manjome realized that he had been holding his breath without realizing it.
However, this was the best he could do.
"Very well," You Xuan said. "End the Battle Phase, and activate the magic card 'Precious Cards from Beyond.' During the turn you performed an Advanced Summon, draw two cards, but the drawn cards cannot be used this turn. If possible, place at least one card face-down." (Original card effect)
Manjome drew two cards, furrowed his brow slightly, then drew two more cards along with another from his hand.
"Place two cards face-down on the field," Manjome said. "Then, activate the Quick-Play Spell Card 'Super Regeneration!' During the End Phase, draw from your Deck the same number of Dragon-Type monsters that were discarded from your hand and/or Tributed this turn.
I discarded one 'Pot of Greed' and two 'Angel's Charity,' and Tributed one 'Desire Dragon' along with two 'Desire Dragon Tokens.'
Therefore, I draw a total of six cards from my Deck!"
In an instant, Manjome's hand was full again.
As expected of the strongest Dragon-Type draw card, it had the same flavor as the dominant 'Draconic Overload' from the past.
"My turn, draw a card," You Xuan said. "First, I activate the magic card 'The Precious Cards of Fate.' When your opponent controls a Special Summoned monster and you control no monsters, draw 2 cards." (Original card effect)
You Xuan drew from his deck.
"Next, the effect of the field magic card 'Chaos Land' activates. Once per turn, send a card with 'Chaos' in its name from your hand to the Graveyard, then Special Summon a 'Chaos' monster from your Graveyard."
He sent a card from his hand to the Graveyard.
"Discard the magic card 'Chaos Triangle Hurricane' from my hand. Rise again, Chaos Emperor!"
[Chaos Emperor: ATK 0]
"Furthermore, since a Chaos monster is on the field, the effect of 'Chaos Land' switches its original ATK and DEF!"
[Chaos Emperor: ATK 3000]
"Chaos Emperor, attack 'Armed Dragon LV5'!"
The Chaos Emperor roared, adjusting his red briefs and striking a muscle-flexing pose before throwing another Superman punch.
"Damn it, foiled again by that annoying clown monster," Syrus muttered, raising his arm to shield himself as his teeth clenched in frustration.
The longer he fought, the more annoying those clown monsters became, and the angrier he felt.
"I set two cards, and that ends my turn."
"My turn, I draw."
Syrus glared at Yubel with a gloomy expression.
Ever since he found out that his opponent for this duel was this guy again, he had lost his appetite and couldn't sleep well. Every time he closed his eyes, a certain annoying yet gentle smile would appear uninvited in the darkness.
He had worked so hard and prepared so thoroughly for this day. He believed he had reached new heights, but when he came for his revenge, what greeted him?
The Roaming Brothers, Roaming Tokens, and Roaming King. The only decent normal monster he faced was Cyber Blader, and even then, it only served as an accomplice to the roaming monsters.
Was his revenge going to be thwarted by these clowns? No way!
"I activate the trap card 'Skill Drain' from my graveyard. It can only be activated during my turn. By removing this card from play, I negate the effects of one monster on the field. I negate the effect of 'Roaming King', thus breaking the lockdown on my monster zones."
Syrus drew another card.
"Then I activate the magic card 'Monster Reborn'! Discard one card from my hand to special summon a monster from the graveyard.
I special summon 'Light and Darkness Dragon' from my graveyard."
A sense of foreboding filled the air, and everyone instinctively held their breath.
Was the dragon about to make its return?
"And I chain the effect of 'Monster Reborn,'" Syrus said. "I activate the quick-play spell 'Luminescent Evolution' to special summon an Angel-Type monster from my hand. The summoned monster's attack is halved, and it's destroyed at the end of the turn.
I special summon 'The Agent of Creation - Venus'!"
[The Agent of Creation - Venus, ATK 1600]
"Of course, Venus will have its attack and defense switched by the effect of 'Roaming Land', and its attack will be halved, but that doesn't matter."
Syrus continued.
"Chaining to the activation of 'Luminescent Evolution', I play this card. Continuous trap 'Dragon's Rage'.
As long as this card remains on the field, when a Dragon-Type monster I control attacks a Defense Position monster, it inflicts piercing damage if its attack exceeds the opponent's defense!"
"Oh?" Jaden said with interest. "Looks like you're setting up something big."
"You'll see soon enough," Syrus said grimly. "Next, I activate the quick-play spell 'Summoning Chain'. This card can only be activated during a chain of 3 or more.
This turn, I can perform up to three normal summons."
"So that's your plan," Jaden nodded.
"First, I normal summon 'Blackarmored Dragon'!" Syrus declared. "When this card is summoned successfully, I can change one monster on the field to face-up Defense Position."
[Blackarmored Dragon, ATK 1800 → ATK 1100] (Attack and Defense switched)
He pointed at Jaden's Roaming King.
"Change Roaming King to Defense Position!"
[Roaming King, ATK 3000 → DEF 0]
"I see!" Chazz exclaimed from the stands. "The continuous trap 'Dragon's Rage' allows Dragon-Type monsters to inflict piercing damage!"
"Looks like he's aiming for a one-hit KO," Tyranno commented.
". . ."
"I activate the effect of 'Summoning Chain' for the second normal summon!" Syrus shouted. "I normal summon the second 'Desire Dragon', and I activate its effect!
Tribute this card to special summon two Dragon Tokens!"
[Dragon Token, ATK 0] x2
"Then, chaining the effect of 'Summoning Chain' again, I perform my third normal summon.
Tribute the two Dragon Tokens, and once again, the boundary of light and darkness descends—
—Light and Darkness Dragon, I summon you!"
The sacred dragon of light and darkness, Syrus' brand-new ace, reappeared amidst the storm of light and darkness!
[Light and Darkness Dragon, ATK 2800 → ATK 2400] (Attack and Defense switched)
"Here it comes, Jaden! Witness the peak of my power!"
Syrus yelled.
"I activate the effect of 'The Agent of Creation - Venus'!" Syrus declared. "Pay 500 Life Points to special summon a 'Divine Sphere' from my deck!"
[Syrus, LP 2100 → LP 1600]
"Huh?" Tyranno was puzzled. "But won't his own dragon be. . ."
Before he could finish, Syrus explained: "Indeed, the effect of Light and Darkness Dragon activates. Reduce its own attack and defense by 500 points, and negate the effect of 'The Agent of Creation - Venus'."
[Light and Darkness Dragon, ATK 2400 → ATK 1900]
Everyone was stunned.
Negating its own effect? What kind of move was that?
"But Venus' effect isn't once per turn, so I pay another 500 Life Points to special summon 'Divine Sphere' from my deck."
Syrus narrowed his eyes.
"Of course, this effect will also be negated by Light and Darkness Dragon, and its attack and defense will be reduced again."
[Syrus, LP 1600 → LP 1100]
[Light and Darkness Dragon, ATK 1900 → ATK 1400]
The onlookers were more confused than ever, but Jaden seemed to have guessed Syrus' strategy.
After all, Syrus had used a similar tactic in the manga.
"I continue to activate Venus' effect." Syrus said solemnly. "Each time, I pay 500 Life Points, and the attack of Light and Darkness Dragon decreases by 500.
This loop will continue until the attack of Light and Darkness Dragon can no longer be reduced by 500.
"Voluntarily reducing his Life Points to such a perilously low number," Sho Marufuji mumbled. "And the Light and Darkness Dragon has become so fragile, its effect useless."
Was this self-defeat? Manjome paused his duel disk's operation and looked up, his gaze distant as he stared at the seemingly weathered and exhausted Light and Darkness Dragon.
"The current Light and Darkness is just like me not long ago," Manjome suddenly muttered to himself. "Suffering the greatest blow, falling from the top, battered and bruised, and left barely breathing. But!"
His tone shifted, and he shouted, "Even if it's the endless hell, even if I have to crawl my way back, I will return! All the pain and hardships, all that couldn't knock me down, will only make me stronger, just like this Light and Darkness Dragon!"
Manjome raised his voice and flipped open his last trap card.
"Watch closely, You Xuan. This is the obsession of a loser! Trap Card: 'Cursed Evil Eye'! Until the end of this turn, all effects that increase or decrease ATK and DEF are reversed!
Currently, the Light and Darkness Dragon's ATK is only 400, and it can't be decreased further, so it doesn't meet the activation condition. Therefore, the effect of 'Cursed Evil Eye' won't be negated by the Light and Darkness Dragon.
Furthermore, after the effect is resolved, the Light and Darkness Dragon's ATK and DEF will be increased by the amount that was decreased due to its own effect!"
[Light and Darkness Dragon: ATK 400/DEF 800 -> ATK 4400/DEF 4800]
"What?!?"
The entire arena was shocked once again.
How could he boost its stats so drastically, reaching over four thousand in a single move?
"Not only that," Mitsuru continued, his breathing rapid, "but with this, the effect of the Light and Darkness Dragon has also been revived! With an ATK of four thousand four hundred, that means it can negate the effects of magic, trap, and monster cards up to eight times!"
"And because of the 'Dragon's Raging Scales' on the field," Asuka added, her expression grave, "the attacks of the Light and Darkness Dragon will have piercing properties."
"OOTK?!?" Sho exclaimed.
Jaden, on the other hand, was thrilled. "What a cool combo! What an intense duel!"
"Go, Light and Darkness Dragon, secure my victory!" Manjome shouted. "Attack the 'Chaos Emperor'! Crush that inferior monster!"
The breath of light and darkness seemed poised to tear through space itself! The sky appeared ready to be ripped apart, the earth trembled, and the breath of light and darkness threatened to annihilate everything in its path!
"This is my comeback from the depths of hell!" Manjome stepped forward unconsciously. "All the mountains that once stood in my way, I will crush them all with this power!"
"Hmm, it's a good thing for youngsters to have ambition."
You Xuan nodded. "But duels that are too self-indulgent often leave openings for your opponent to exploit."
"What?" Manjome frowned.
"I activate a face-down card, the Quick-Play Spell 'Emergency Food.' Send all Spell and Trap Cards you control to the Graveyard, and gain 1000 Life Points for each card sent."
"You want to regain Life Points to survive this attack? But this effect will also be negated by the Light and Darkness Dragon!" Manjome shouted. "Light and Darkness Dragon, reduce your ATK and DEF by 500 points, and negate the activation of 'Emergency Food'!"
[Light and Darkness Dragon: ATK 4400/DEF 4800 -> ATK 3900/DEF 4300]
"Of course it will be negated. But just like how you used 'Mini Guts' to break through the Ice Blade LOCK, only the effect of the card is negated, not the activation cost."
You Xuan explained, "Sending Spell and Trap Cards on the field to the Graveyard is the activation cost of 'Emergency Food', not its effect. So, I send 'Chaos Land' to the Graveyard.
All monsters on the field switch their ATK and DEF back!"
[Light and Darkness Dragon: ATK 3900 -> ATK 4300]
[Chaos Emperor: DEF 0 -> DEF 3000]
"Hmph, using the activation cost to send your field Spell Card to the Graveyard," Manjome grunted.
"It's not just you who can make good use of activation costs," You Xuan said with a smile.
"But even so, you've only negated part of the damage. The effect of 'Emergency Food' was negated, so your Life Points won't recover.
With 'Dragon's Raging Scales' on the field, you'll still take piercing damage for any ATK that exceeds the DEF of the defending monster."
"Don't be hasty," You Xuan continued. "Think about why I chose to activate 'Emergency Food' right after your attack declaration. Does it remind you of something from the previous turn?"
Manjome's pupils contracted as he immediately recalled the method used to counter the Light and Darkness Dragon earlier.
On the same chain, the Light and Darkness Dragon could only negate one card effect.
"You..."
"That's right," You Xuan confirmed. "Also, at the moment of your attack declaration, I activate a face-down card! Trap Card: D2 Shield!
Select one face-up Defense Position monster on your side of the field, and its DEF becomes double its original DEF!"
Manjome's eyes widened in shock.
Double its original DEF? That would mean...
[Chaos Emperor: DEF 3000 -> DEF 6000]
"Six thousand DEF?!?"
As he watched the Chaos Emperor's form rapidly grow to more than twice its size, like an insurmountable white mountain, Manjome froze.
No... It can't be.
He had come this far, performing so brilliantly, only to be stopped by a Chaos Emperor once again?
Chaos... Chaos...
Manjome's face fell. He felt like he would never escape the shadow of the Chaos monsters.
"Chaos Emperor!"
The Chaos Emperor roared, slapping away the sacred breath of the Light and Darkness Dragon, causing it to explode on the spot.
[Manjome: LP 100 -> LP 0]
(End of Chapter)
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