Chapter 58: The Dueling World is Truly Terrifying
Chapter 58: The Dueling World is Truly Terrifying
"It's my turn now, time to draw!" You Xuan declared as he drew a monster card and slapped it onto his Duel Disk. "Special Summon 'Candy Clown'!"
[Candy Clown, ATK 0]
"This card can be Special Summoned from my hand in Attack Position without any conditions." You Xuan explained, "Now, offering 'Candy Clown' as a Tribute, I perform an Advanced Summon!
Behold the monarch of psychokinetic prowess, a Level 6 monster—
—'Psychic Dominator', appear!"
With a burst of electrical sparks and the whirring of mechanical parts, the android, Soga, which had been retrieved last turn using 'Black Forest Witch', stepped onto the battlefield.
[Android-Psychic Dominator, ATK 2400]
"Damn, it's out already? What a nuisance." Thief Keith grumbled.
As the android materialized, invisible psychokinetic bindings immediately sealed off the back row, transforming the battlefield into an absolute no-go zone filled with traps.
This move would effectively suppress Keith's back row to the greatest extent possible. You Xuan pointed to his opponent's field and commanded, "'Silent Magician LV8', attack 'Gun Dragon'!"
Magical vortices whipped up the magician girl's robes as she stepped onto an array of runes, floating in the air. Her magic manifested as a bolt of white lightning, striking the gun dragon's body. The massive black steel dragon let out a horrific scream as it exploded and left the field.
[Thief Keith, LP 900 → LP 500]
Keith staggered half a step back, his sturdy physique barely withstanding the magical assault that had pierced his monster. With a cold glint in his eyes, he said, "But at that moment, the effect of 'Outlaw Gun Dragon' in my hand also activated."
He flipped over a card in his hand, revealing a shimmering flow of golden light on its surface.
"The effect of 'Outlaw Gun Dragon' allows me to Special Summon this card from my hand when a Machine-Type, DARK attribute monster I control is destroyed by battle or card effect!" Thief Keith explained.
The card was slammed onto the Duel Disk, and a sizzling current of electricity coursed through the system.
"In the symphony of metal and flame, the deadly soul of machinery awakens. I summon you—
—'Outlaw Gun Dragon', Level 8!"
The gigantic steel foot of the dragon seemed to dent the very ground it stepped on, and its long mechanical tail lashed out like a steel whip. The gun dragon's arms and head were gun barrels themselves, emitting a heavy metallic roar.
[Outlaw Gun Dragon, ATK 2800]
"Hahaha! Now this is my new ace, the true power of Gun Dragon!" Thief Keith boasted, "And under the effect of 'Orichalcum's Barrier', the attack of 'Outlaw Gun Dragon' increases by 500!"
[Outlaw Gun Dragon, ATK 2800 → ATK 3300]
Keith continued, "Furthermore, I activate the effect of 'Outlaw Gun Dragon'!"
Miss Holy Elf, who had been anxiously observing the duel, exclaimed, "It can activate its effect during your opponent's turn as well?"
"Indeed," Thief Keith replied with a smug smile. "The effect of 'Outlaw Gun Dragon' can be activated once per turn, regardless of whose Battle Phase it is."
"I toss three coins," he continued. "Depending on the number of heads that turn up, I can destroy up to that number of face-up monsters on the field!"
A slight frown appeared on You Xuan's face.
'Outlaw Gun Dragon' was indeed a formidable monster in the early environment. Its ability was akin to a "Second-Turn-Kill" card, allowing it to destroy cards during the opponent's turn—a capability that was exceedingly rare in those days.
Even though it could only be activated during the Battle Phase, it was still incredibly pesky.
Of course, in an actual holographic duel, the spinning of the revolver cylinder still replaced the coin toss. After a whirlwind of spinning, one of the three gun barrels was loaded with ammunition.
"Looks like I only got one random hit this time, but it's enough." Thief Keith declared, "Go, 'Outlaw Gun Dragon'! Destroy 'Android-Psychic Dominator'!"
The revolver's trigger was pulled, and the gunfire pierced through the android's body, causing it to explode into a shower of sparks.
You Xuan raised his arm to shield himself from the smoke, his mind racing with curiosity.
He chose to destroy the android first instead of the Silent Magician. Why? His gaze shifted to the back row.
It was natural to assume that Keith's priority was to deal with Soga's troublesome "Trap Lock" ability. In other words, that back row card...
As expected, Thief Keith let out another string of triumphant laughter before eagerly continuing, "Now that the android is gone, the Trap Lock is also broken! So, I activate my face-down Trap Card, 'Forced Escape Device'! Return one monster on the field to its owner's hand!"
A cold smile played on Thief Keith's lips.
You Xuan immediately countered. The power of the spell condensed into a holy lance that appeared in the Silent Magician's hand, releasing a sacred wave that resisted the trap's invasion.
"The 'Forbidden Holy Lance' decreases the selected monster's ATK by 800 points until the end of this turn and gives it immunity to magic and trap card effects.
Therefore, the effect of 'Forced Escape Device' is negated."
[Silent Magician LV8, ATK 3500 → ATK 2700]
"Damn, you're persistent," Thief Keith grunted.
"I'll set another card and end my turn," You Xuan said. "At this moment, the Silent Magician's attack returns to normal."
[Silent Magician LV8, ATK 2700 → ATK 3500]
"My turn! I draw!" Thief Keith declared. "I activate the Magic Card 'Discount Shopping'! Discard a Level 8 monster from my hand and draw two cards from my deck.
I'll discard 'Metal Devil-Zoa' from my hand and draw."
After drawing two more cards, he quickly scanned them with a cold gaze that soon returned to the Silent Magician.
"Since you refuse to go back, perish!
Outlaw Gun Dragon, effect activation!
During the Battle Phase, I'll toss a coin three times and destroy monsters on the field equal to the number of heads!"
The revolver cylinder began to spin again. While it was a 50-50 chance for each spin, only one successful hit was needed to destroy the Silent Magician. Unless his opponent was a Saiou or a Kiryu, it was almost impossible for all three to miss.
"I reveal my face-down Trap Card, 'Forgetfulness'!" You Xuan flipped a card on the field. "When an opponent's monster in Attack Position activates its effect, negate that effect, and that monster is changed to Defense Position!
Negate the effect of 'Outlaw Gun Dragon'!"
The spinning revolver cylinder suddenly stopped as if it had jammed, and electric sparks danced across the steel dragon's body. It staggered, knelt, and held its head as if it had forgotten the proper way to shoot.
[Outlaw Gun Dragon, ATK 3300 → DEF 2200]
"What a pesky opponent," Thief Keith grumbled. "Fine, I'll set two cards and end my turn."
Miss Holy Elf, who was watching from the sidelines, was so nervous she dared not breathe.
Both duelists had summoned incredibly powerful monsters, and the intense back-and-forth of the duel seemed to her like it would tear the monsters to shreds at any moment.
"This is so scary," she thought.
The Dueling World is truly terrifying.
(End of Chapter)
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