Chapter 321: Approaching Death
Chapter 321: Approaching Death
Golden lightning pierced through the dark clouds, and a figure clad in golden armor slowly descended amidst the electrical glow. The lightning flickered and surged within a core embedded in the chest of this thunderous entity.
"Elemental Hero Thunder Giant, Fusion Summon!" Jaden cried out.
Elemental Hero Thunder Giant, Jaden thought, 2400 ATK.
"Oh?" Deathiro grunted, "A quick Fusion Summon during the Battle Phase? But no matter how powerful the Fusion Hero is..."
"Thunder Giant's effect activates!" Jaden interrupted, "When this card is Fusion Summoned, select 1 face-up monster on the field with an ATK less than this card's ATK and destroy it!" (Original effect)
After becoming a physical card, Thunder Giant's effect was modified to be activated once per turn, but it required discarding a card from the hand as a cost.
In the anime, the effect could only be used during the turn it was Fusion Summoned and didn't require discarding a card.
"I activate Thunder Giant's effect! Destroy 'Cotton Cloud' on the field!"
Thunder Giant roared, raising his palms. The core in his chest armor spun rapidly, drawing golden lightning from the thunderclouds, which transformed into a swirling sphere of lightning that shot forward.
Cotton Cloud was hit squarely in the chest, its fluffy body pierced by the lightning. The electrical burst reduced it to smithereens in an instant.
"Yes! That takes care of Cotton Cloud!"
Jaden clenched his fist and pumped it in the air.
"Since it's still the Declaration of Attack Phase, a change in the number of monsters triggers a Battle Replay. 'Elemental Hero Wildman' continues its direct attack!"
Wildman flew forward, slashing downward with its blade. Deathiro's layers of defense were breached, and Wildman's blade cleaved through with ease, slicing over Deathiro's head.
Deathiro: 4000 LP → 2500 LP
Deathiro grunted and knelt, holding his chest where the blade had passed through.
"Tch, not bad."
He furrowed his brows, looking at Jaden with a mix of surprise and annoyance.
What's going on? This guy doesn't look like the "Dueling dunce of Duel Academy" at all!
That Black Flame guy said he investigated this guy, right? Wasn't he supposed to be the weakest link in the Red Dorm?
Is this what they call the bottom of the barrel at Duel Academy?
Deathiro even started to feel relieved that he had decided to take matters into his own hands instead of sending someone else. Anyone else from his department might not have been a match for this spiky-haired duelist.
With the Duel City tournament just beginning, his department had already suffered a double loss at the hands of two Duel Academy students. If word of this got out, his position as department head would surely be in jeopardy, and his entire department might face repercussions.
At least he had come in person.
Deathiro stood up and scoffed, "I may have underestimated you, but it won't make a difference. During the End Phase of this turn, the effect of 'Spirit Plate' also activates again."
He raised his hand and declared, "Death Message!"
The Spirit Plate activated once more. A third semi-transparent white ghost emerged, holding the third letter that led to death.
The letter A.
D, E, A... With this, two-thirds of the word "DEATH" was complete.
"Time waits for no one, Jaden," Deathiro said with a cold smile, "You're one step closer to death."
". . ."
Jaden was at a loss for words. Suddenly, his Thunder Giant exploded on the field, its body shattering into pieces.
"Due to 'Super-Heavy Net,' Thunder Giant couldn't attack. Additionally, monsters Fusion Summoned using 'Instant Fusion' are destroyed during the End Phase.
My turn is over."
"Hahaha! Looks like you're out of options!" Deathiro exclaimed, "Now, it's my turn again! Draw!
First, I activate the Magic Card, 'Magic Book of Spellbindings'! Both players draw 3 cards from their Decks!"
A green card projection appeared behind him, sending out an invisible wave that enveloped the entire field, as if covering it with a faint golden aura.
"Temporary Truce: Both players draw one card from their decks." Deathiro explained.
"However, until the end of your next turn, any damage either player takes... is reduced to zero!"
"I see." Jaden nodded, "With this card activated, I won't be able to inflict any battle or effect damage."
"Hahaha, yes! And so, you can do nothing but wait helplessly for your next turn!" Deathiro's laughter turned sharp and maniacal.
After a bout of laughter, he paused, his lips curved in a sinister smile. "Do you hear that?" he asked.
"Huh?" Jaden was perplexed.
"The footsteps of death, drawing ever closer." Deathiro's voice turned grim. "Your time is running out."
"Hahaha, yeah, it's a real headache." Jaden scratched his head. "I would have lost in two more turns, but it looks like I can't do anything in the next one. It's really frustrating."
Deathiro's eyebrows furrowed. Why wasn't this boy afraid, even in such a dire situation? Could he be enjoying this predicament?
"Unable to battle or inflict effect damage... it seems the final round will decide our fate." Jaden rested his chin on his hand, musing, "Spirit Plate, huh? I never thought I'd see this legendary tactic in person. It's really impressive."
Deathiro: "..."
This kid... was he insane?
"Losing the duel means death." Was there something about this that he couldn't understand?
"Tsk, you're a carefree one." Deathiro scoffed. "Since that's the case, I'll make sure to crank up the pressure. I activate the magic card, 'Burial Spellbook'! By removing from play the three magic cards 'Greed Jar', 'Whirlwind', and 'Temporary Truce' from my graveyard, I draw two cards from my deck!" Deathiro drew two more cards.
"Then, I Normal Summon my second 'Cotton Cloud'!"
[Cotton Cloud: ATK 300]
"Ah, that monster again." Jaden tilted his head.
"A nuisance that can't be destroyed in battle. It seems our tricky problems are increasing."
Despite his words, Jaden's tone remained casual, devoid of any tension that suggested he was facing imminent death.
Deathiro's eyebrows knitted together. Was this boy incredibly confident or just plain stupid?
In truth, ever since the Arcana Force arc in the anime, Jaden had started to feel the pressure of these life-or-death duels. There was even a period where he had frequent nightmares of losing and watching his friends perish. The usually cheerful boy almost lost his smile.
However, it was around this time that a mysterious figure, possibly Kaiba or a Blue-Eyes White Dragon in disguise, appeared to guide him, helping Jaden overcome his fears and confusion.
Even then, what Jaden feared was not his own death but the possibility of his companions suffering due to his loss. He was worried about endangering those around him.
Now, in this life-or-death duel, it seemed that only his own life was at stake, and so Jaden immersed himself fully in the duel, momentarily forgetting about life and death.
"This year's Duel Academy has quite a bunch of odd students."
Deathiro muttered, waving his hand to set two cards and ending his turn.
"
(End of Chapter)"
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