Chapter 323: Provocation
Chapter 323: Provocation
"Alright, my turn now. Draw!"
Jaden Yuuki's morale remained unwavering.
Yami Bakura furrowed his brow.
Spirit Reaper was his favorite tactical move, not just because he was adept at using it, but also because he relished witnessing his opponents being pushed to their limits, step by step. He enjoyed observing their futile struggles, their gradual descent into powerless despair, the loss of their sanity, and ultimately, their fall into the abyss as death loomed ever closer.
He savored his opponents' anguish.
However, this young man before him, even at this critical juncture, showed no signs of waning fighting spirit. In fact, it seemed that the more dire the circumstances, the stronger his determination became.
After a moment's thought, Yami Bakura couldn't help but ask, "Don't you feel any fear?"
"Huh?" Jaden blinked, "Fear of what?"
Fear of what? Did he really need to ask that?
Yami Bakura felt that this guy's brain was definitely not wired right, "Don't you know that losing this duel within this barrier will result in the loss of your soul?"
"Oh, that," Jaden nodded, "Of course, I know. If you're asking if I'm afraid of death, then yes, I am. Dying is terrifying, and if I die, I won't have another chance to duel, right?"
Yami Bakura: ". . ."
No, I think you're missing the point here.
"But, compared to that," Jaden continued with a mischievous smile, "I'm currently dueling with a legendary, out-of-print deck in a heated battle. How could I possibly have time to be afraid when I'm doing something so exciting?"
Yami Bakura: ". . ."
I don't understand what you're saying. Are you speaking a different language?
He was now convinced that this guy's brain was definitely not functioning normally.
This level of card obsession had reached the point of logical dysfunction, hadn't it?
"Besides," Jaden went on nonchalantly, "Even if you say that losing means death, then winning is the solution, isn't it?"
"Hmph, that's a joke. This is already your last turn. The instant this turn ends, the death information will be complete, and that will be your defeat. How do you plan to win in this situation?"
"I don't know," Jaden admitted candidly.
Yami Bakura: "?"
"That's precisely why it's more interesting," Jaden's eyes lit up with excitement, "Even I don't know if there's a way to turn this situation around. But that's what makes dueling so fun. Who knows what will happen next?"
Yami Bakura: "???"
No, I think I'm even more confused now.
"First, I'll play this card, the Spell Card 'Polymerization'!" (Original Card)
Jaden played the spell card from his hand.
"Send the top five cards of your deck to the Graveyard. If there are exactly the right Fusion Material Monsters among them, you can use those monsters to perform a Fusion Summon of the Fusion Monster!"
Yami Bakura frowned, "So, it's all left to luck?"
"It's not luck, it's skill," Jaden asserted confidently, "I have faith in my drawing abilities, even though I don't know what these five cards will be. But I always believe in my deck! Draw!"
With that, he drew five cards in quick succession.
Jaden's eyes lit up, and he immediately revealed two of the cards.
" 'Elemental HERO Bubbleman' and 'Swamp King Genex', the monster with the ability to substitute for any Fusion Material!" Jaden explained, "I use 'Swamp King Genex' to substitute for 'Elemental HERO Avian', and fuse it with 'Elemental HERO Bubbleman'!
Unite the wings that control the wind and the hero with the power of water—
—'Elemental HERO Mariner', Fusion Summon!"
【Elemental HERO Mariner, ATK: 1400】
"Mariner?" Yami Bakura asked, puzzled.
A Fusion Hero with only 1400 ATK.
"I'll set one card face-down in my Spell and Trap Card Zone." Jaden smiled, "This is the effect of 'Elemental HERO Mariner'. When Mariner has a Spell or Trap Card in its zone, this card can directly attack the opponent."
Yami Bakura understood, "So, you're unable to defeat Cotton Cloud, and you've chosen to bypass my frontline defense and attack me directly."
He paused, then chuckled, "However, Mariner's Attack Points are only 1400.
As Jaden spoke, semi-transparent heroic silhouettes appeared behind him.
"Elemental HERO Dark Necro." Jaden continued, "When this card is in the Graveyard, I only get one chance to summon an 'Elemental HERO' Fusion Monster without offering the necessary Tributed Monsters."
Jaden slapped down another Monster Card from his hand.
"Thus, I can Normal Summon 'Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman' without any Tributes!"
[Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman, ATK: 2600]
Death Spirit's expression shifted: "The effect of that guy..."
Jaden: "That's right. When 'Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman' attacks a Defense Position Monster, it can inflict piercing battle damage. Even if the Monster cannot be destroyed, the battle damage can still be calculated as usual!"
Cotton Cloud had a Defense Stat of 500, so an attack from Shining Flare Wingman would deal 2100 piercing damage. Coupled with Mariner's direct attack, these two strikes could deal a massive 3500 damage in one go.
[Death Spirit, LP: 2500]
Death Spirit narrowed his eyes: "Now I see how you can deal that much damage. But have you forgotten something?"
"Whether it's Shining Flare Wingman or Mariner, they're both Level 4 or higher. Under the restriction of 'Super Gravity Net', they can't perform any attacks."
Jaden: "Of course, I'm aware of that. So, I activate my face-down Trap Card, 'Trap Negate'! For this turn, all Trap Cards on the field, except for this one, become invalid."
Death Spirit: "Hahahaha! Magnificent! A splendid struggle indeed! To be able to mount such a counterattack on your final turn, you're better than I expected. Much stronger!"
His expression twisted grotesquely amidst his laughter.
"That's precisely what makes you such delectable prey! So, before 'Trap Negate' takes effect, I chain this card by activating my Trap Card, 'Provoke'! This card can only be activated during your Main Phase 1. Choose one Monster on your field, and as long as it remains, your opponent can only attack that Monster during this turn."
Jaden: "Huh?"
Being able to attack only a specific Monster meant...
He glanced at Cotton Cloud.
Death Spirit: "Hahaha, indeed. So, this turn, your 'Elemental HERO Mariner' can't attack directly and must target my 'Cotton Cloud' instead."
Death Spirit cackled.
"And when Mariner attacks a Defense Position Monster, it doesn't have any piercing effect, so I'll only take 2100 piercing damage from Shining Flare Wingman, leaving me with 400 Life Points. You have no other means of offense."
This Trap Card effectively forced Jaden to take down Cotton Cloud first.
"You've struggled hard to get this far, Jaden Yuki. To create such a desperate counterattack with just five random cards from 'Fusion Birth', no wonder you're so confident in your draws. Perhaps you truly are a Duelist with top-notch talent."
Death Spirit's smile turned sinister.
"But it's futile. All your struggles are meaningless; they only serve to make your descent into despair more entertaining. When this turn ends, the death information on the Soul-Summoning Plate will be complete, and you'll have no chance of victory!"
Jaden: "Ah, that does seem like a bit of a problem."
"Not necessarily."
A voice came from the side, and both Duelists turned instinctively to look.
When Death Spirit saw who it was, his pupils contracted.
You Xuan?
(End of Chapter)
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