Chapter 423: Player of the Match
Chapter 423: Player of the Match
Infinite splendor, a shining white dragon, like a blue sun rising into the sky, and the sacred body of the White Dragon reappears in that splendor!
Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon, Attack: 3000 → 4800
"The Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon has been resurrected!" Keihei rejoiced.
"It's been turned around again," Juudai muttered, stunned.
Yu Xuan's Chaos Soldier had just entered the field, and he had expected the double attack to seal his victory. Who would have thought that in the end, the President still had this trick up his sleeve, resurrecting his invincible Shining Dragon once more.
The Shining Dragon was unaffected by any effects; neither Chaos Soldier's attack power nor its ability to destroy or remove it from play would work. And in the next turn, Kaiba's counterattack would seal his comeback victory.
The President had turned the tables on him.
And now, Yu Xuan no longer had his ace, Dragon Master Knight, to counter the Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon.
What else could he do in this situation?
"In that case, I return my battle, terminate my attack, and end my Battle Phase." Yu Xuan declared, "I'm not attacking."
With that declaration, he entered the second Main Phase, signifying that he had officially given up his offense for this turn.
Marufuji breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed that even the Master of Yellow, at this point, was powerless.
"I activate the magic card, 'Pot of Greed'," Yu Xuan announced.
"Return five monsters from your graveyard to your deck and draw two cards."
Five monster cards from the graveyard were quickly removed, briefly displayed in his hand, and then reinserted into the deck.
"Of course, among them is 'Dragon Master Knight', a Fusion Monster, so instead of shuffling it back into the deck, it returns directly to the Fusion Deck."
"Oh?" Kaiba snorted, "So you've recovered 'Dragon Master Knight' and 'Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon'?"
Everyone fell silent.
Indeed. To defeat the Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon, it seemed only the dragon-slaying expert could do it.
This divine-level dragon was far beyond the capabilities of ordinary monsters.
Dragon Master Knight was his only chance.
"But even so, it's only been returned to the deck," Marufuji frowned, "Relying on a single draw to summon it again..."
He trailed off, but everyone shared his sentiment.
At this point, Yu Xuan's chances were slim.
Of course, no one dared to question him. Even if he lost here, he had already astonished everyone with his skills. To push Kaiba to such a corner, he was far more than just a champion of the Duel Academy.
At this moment, he had undoubtedly reached the pinnacle of the dueling world, standing among the handful of top duelists of this era.
However, even at this stage, it all came down to a single draw.
"I can do it," Juudai suddenly said.
Marufuji looked at him in surprise.
"I believe in Yu Xuan," Juudai smiled slightly, "Because he's uncommonly strong."
Yu Xuan didn't draw right away but looked directly at Kaiba.
"In the end, it all comes down to the draw. President, you're truly formidable." Yu Xuan shrugged, "To be honest, I rarely find myself in this situation."
"Hmph." Kaiba feigned indifference, but the curl of his lips betrayed his satisfaction.
He was used to flattery, with almost everyone around him trying to curry favor. Yet, he usually brushed them off nonchalantly.
But praise from a strong opponent was different, especially one who had pushed him to his limits. Even the President relished such acknowledgment.
Of course, he wouldn't admit it verbally.
"If you think this will make me hold back, you're mistaken," Kaiba said calmly, "In a duel, you must always give it your all and fight until only one of us is left standing."
"Of course," Yu Xuan nodded, "Regardless, this is most likely my last draw."
Yu Xuan closed his eyes briefly.
"The duel has progressed beyond my calculations and setups. Whether it's victory or defeat, it all comes down to this single draw."
Kaiba raised an eyebrow, "Are you afraid to uncover the answer?"
"No," Yu Xuan smiled and reopened his eyes.
There was not a hint of hesitation in his gaze, only the fearless determination of one striding towards the future.
Kaiba doubted he could remain so composed if their positions were reversed, with victory or defeat hanging on a single card.
"Believe in your deck and pour your heart into every draw," Yu Xuan whispered.
The golden pendant around his neck gleamed brightly.
"Don't think, just feel and anticipate."
Shaping the future and creating miracles through the cards they drew—that was the essence of dueling.
Yu Xuan drew two cards, his movement so swift that even the air seemed to scorch in the path of his arm's arc, distorting his very being with an unseen heat.
Kaiba's pupils contracted.
The power of the spirits was undeniable.
But this peculiar sensation, this feeling—could it be...?
Yu Xuan raised the card he had just drawn, the one that had answered his call at the climax of their duel, during his final draw.
"Offering Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon and White Spirit Dragon as tributes, I special summon my soul, my ace, on your field, Mr. President! Arising from the abyssal lava, a force of destruction and rebirth—
—Magma Demon!!!'
Lava flowed and surged like an erupting volcano, its searing heat capable of incinerating all in its path, be it god or even the transcendent Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon.
The sun-like radiance dimmed as if stars were being devoured. A burning palm slammed onto the field before the President, and a towering humanoid figure slowly emerged from the flames.
[Magma Demon: Attack: 3000]
Kaiba: "..."
Indeed... This thing.
Marufuji's mouth hung open, his expression reflecting the astonishment of witnessing a miracle.
That's right.
There was more than one way to take down the Blue-Eyes Shining Dragon, and destruction wasn't the only option.
This was his ace...
Only now did the spectators realize the truth.
Although 'Pot of Greed' had returned the Buster Blader and Dragon Destroyer to the deck, it was all a ruse. Among those five cards was his true ace, the Magma Demon.
However, despite this revelation, the odds were still stacked against him.
Drawing two cards after returning five from the graveyard to the deck, with only this one opportunity, which was most likely the decisive draw of the duel, he precisely drew the Magma Demon that he had just returned to the deck.
Marufuji couldn't help but glance at Judai beside him.
Compared to Yu Xuan, this kind of miraculous draw seemed more like something Judai would pull off.
But Judai stood there with his hands on his hips, a broad smile on his face, and said, "I told you, Yu Xuan is unbelievably strong."
Marufuji: "..."
A single draw with the luck of Yugi Muto himself, yet the card revealed was something so sinister. Talk about a lucky draw and a trip to the underworld!
"It's not over yet," Judai continued, "During its controller's Standby Phase, Magma Demon inflicts 1000 points of damage."
[Kaiba: LP 1000]
Exactly a thousand points, neither more nor less.
And let's not forget that the three thousand points of damage Kaiba had taken earlier were also courtesy of the Magma Demon's fiery fist.
If there were an MVP award for this duel based on damage output, the Magma Demon would undoubtedly take the title, having shouldered a hundred percent of the team's damage.
"But it's not over yet," Marufuji said, "Magma Demon's effect can only be activated during the Standby Phase. Before that, President Kaiba still has one more chance to draw."
Although it seemed like a slim chance, if anyone could turn the tables with a single draw, it would be Kaiba.
"This turn isn't over yet, so the effect of 'Executioner - Magishuura' is still active," Yu Xuan said, "I can still activate a Trap Card from my hand.
So, I activate this card."
Yu Xuan waved his hand dramatically.
"Trap Card 'Seal of the Grave'! Skip your next Draw Phase!"
Everyone: "..."
Kaiba: "..."
As expected, the President, who had spent countless years studying his longtime rival's deck, immediately recognized the card.
Another damnable card from that damnable game.
"So, your Draw Phase is skipped, and you proceed directly to the Standby Phase without drawing," Yu Xuan explained, "Then, during the Standby Phase, the effect of Magma Demon...
...inflicts 1000 points of damage to its controller."
Kaiba turned to look at Yu Xuan once more, still seeing the radiant glow of the pendant around his neck, still feeling as if he were glimpsing the shadow of a departed friend.
But as the rolling magma crashed down, sending waves of heat and white smoke billowing towards him, he finally snapped out of his daze.
And when he looked again, there was no trace of his departed friend. Standing before him, having delivered this long-awaited defeat, was a dueler by the name of You Xuan.
Just You Xuan.
[Kaiba: LP 1000 -> LP 0]
(End of Chapter)
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