Chapter 925: The Cactus Strikes
Chapter 925: The Cactus Strikes
"Tsubaki-Titania, attack 'Manjushri'!"
Despite the sudden powerful offensive lineup, Eddie remained calm.
"Then, I activate my Set Trap Card, 'Dimension Wall'!"
A pitch-black dimensional fissure spun open, ready to swallow Tsubaki whole.
"When your opponent declares an attack, remove the attacking monster from play!"
As the fissure approached, it seemed to engulf Tsubaki on You Xuan's field. You Xuan responded instantly, snapping his fingers.
"Then, the effect of Tsubaki-Titania activates.
When a spell, trap, or monster effect that targets a card on the field is activated, tribute one Plant-type monster from the field to negate and destroy that activation!"
Eddie's eyebrows furrowed slightly, "A plant with such formidable abilities?"
"I told you not to underestimate any race's potential." You Xuan smiled, "I tribute 'Giant Plant' to negate and destroy the activation of 'Dimension Wall'!"
Dimension Wall also targeted a card, and Giant Plant disintegrated into specks of light. Tsubaki's petals filled the dark fissure, and the trap shattered and dissipated.
"The battle continues, Tsubaki-Titania, destroy Manjushri!"
Manjushri was pierced through the chest and exploded into fragments. Eddie raised his arm to block, and the impact of the explosion caused him to stagger.
[Eddie, LP4000 → LP2600]
"Then, I Set three cards and end my turn."
"My turn, I draw."
Eddie's face remained unperturbed.
"Next, I activate the Ritual Spell Card 'Advanced Ritual Art'.
Send Normal Monsters from your Deck to the Graveyard until their total Levels equal that of the Ritual Monster you want to Ritual Summon. Ritual Summon that monster from your hand."
He spread out his deck and drew a card.
"I send the Level 8 'Triangle Dragon' from my deck to the Graveyard as a tribute for the Ritual Summon!"
A ritual altar appeared, and a pale green flame ignited. Within the flickering flames, a dark, blurry shadow emerged, and its red cloak stood out even more against the surrounding green mist.
It was as if a terrifying being, once sealed within a stone slab, had come to life, filled with utmost hatred and loathing for this world, and darkness seemed to materialize and spread from it.
"The world-destroying evil god has arrived." Eddie spoke in a deep voice, "Dark Ruler Zorc, I summon you."
[Dark Ruler Zorc, ATK 2700]
"Zorc," You Xuan muttered, "Is it really that Zorc?"
Yes, it was the same Zorc from the ending of the DM series, the great evil god slain by the God of Creation.
Of course, the Zorc before them appeared much weaker, and a mere eight-star Ritual Demon couldn't compare to the stature of the great evil god. But this Ritual Monster wasn't just a random demon with the same name as the BOSS; its original user was also the human form of the great evil god Zorc, the dark personality of Makoto.
The prototype of this card was the evil faction BOSS that Makoto controlled in the tabletop role-playing game 'Monster World' outside of the card-fighting chapter in the original manga.
So, while it wasn't the great evil god himself, it wasn't entirely unrelated to that formidable being.
"I guess it's a disguise of the great evil god?" You Xuan asked, "Is that your true identity?"
But Eddie shook his head.
"The great evil god Zorc is dead." Eddie said calmly, "What remains now is merely an empty shell he once inhabited countless years ago."
He looked down at his right hand, clenched his fist, and seemed to feel the power within. A wave of darkness seemed to radiate from Zorc, spreading to Eddie, swirling around him.
"This Duel has reached its conclusion." Eddie declared.
You Xuan frowned slightly, as if suddenly realizing something.
"Your purpose, is it merely to summon this guy? Dark Ruler Zorc?" You Xuan asked, "What is this? Some sort of revival ritual performed through a Dark Duel?"
Eddie shook his head, showing no intention of explaining, and simply waved his hand.
"The effect of Dark Ruler Zorc activates.
Once per turn, during your Main Phase, roll a die and apply the effect corresponding to the result.
If the result is 1 or 2, destroy all monsters your opponent controls.
If the result is 3, 4, or 5, you can destroy one monster your opponent controls.
If the result is 6, destroy all monsters you control."
"Only the number 6 has a drawback." You Xuan nodded, "A 1/6 chance of failure."
"But true power can even overcome fate." Eddie said.
As he spoke, a die materialized and tumbled in the hovering darkness, rolling twice before coming to a stop on the ground.
The result was 4.
"Just the number 4, huh."
Eddie seemed slightly dissatisfied with the outcome, and he clenched his fist tighter, as if sensing the power within him.
"Not bad, but it'll do.
The effect for the number 4 is to destroy one monster your opponent controls. Destroy 'Tsubaki-Titania'!"
Zorc stood still, not moving an inch. The darkness on his body erupted in all directions like a tidal wave, engulfing Tsubaki in an instant and crushing her to pieces in the darkness.
However, after the darkness dissipated, Eddie noticed a Trap Card that You Xuan had flipped face-up in his Spell & Trap Zone, unnoticed until now.
Continuous Trap Card, Summon Limit - Monster Rush.
Noticing Eddie's gaze, You Xuan smiled, "This card was activated when you summoned Zorc.
As long as this card remains on the field, monsters Special Summoned by both players must be in Attack Position, and those monsters must attack if able to do so."
Eddie furrowed his brows and pondered for a moment. "It doesn't matter. Zok's power is meant for offense."
"Battle!" Eddie declared, "Dark Ruler Zok, direct attack on the Duel King!"
A crimson light flashed in Zok's eyes, as if craving for blood and the power of the duelist, it devoured everything in its path with an endless darkness.
Even You Xuan felt a chilling darkness from it.
"I don't know what your intentions are, but there's one thing I agree with. This duel should end here."
He slowly raised his arm.
"I activate a face-down card, Continuous Trap, 'Silver Mirror Wall'! As long as this trap remains on the field, the attack of all opposing monsters is halved!"
A transparent silver mirror wall rose from the ground, blocking You Xuan like an iceberg.
This was the trap card used by Mai Valentine in the original story. During the Duel Kingdom era, there was no cost to use it, but in the real-life card game, a new rule was added where the player must pay 2000 Life Points during their Standby Phase to maintain the card's presence, or it would be destroyed.
"Do you want to reduce Zok's attack power to minimize damage?" Eddie asked.
"Reduce damage? No." You Xuan replied calmly, "No, I intend to end this duel this turn.
One shot, one kill!"
He activated another face-down card, a Continuous Trap, 'Call of the Haunted', reviving a monster from his Graveyard in Attack Position.
"I Special Summon 'Sangan' from my Graveyard."
【Sangan, ATK 1900】
Eddie understood, "If Zok attacks, the Silver Mirror Wall will halve its attack power, and Sangan will counter-attack, defeating Zok.
Since the number of monsters on the field has changed, the battle is rolled back, and I won't attack."
He suddenly stopped, realizing something.
Eddie: "!"
That's right.
He couldn't stop, he couldn't end the attack.
Dark Ruler Zok was a Special Summoned monster. The restriction of 'Summon Limit - Onslaught' forced Special Summoned monsters to attack.
Currently, You Xuan only had Sangan on his field, and if he didn't cancel the attack, Eddie had to continue attacking Sangan.
"It seems you've noticed." You Xuan smiled, "Indeed, Zok's attack cannot be stopped, and it continues to attack Sangan.
At this moment, the Silver Mirror Wall's effect is triggered, halving Zok's attack power."
【Dark Ruler Zok, ATK 2700 → ATK 1350】
Zok, dazed and confused, crashed into the mirror wall, its power significantly weakened. Sangan seized the opportunity and struck with its thorny palm, causing Zok to explode.
【Eddie, LP 2600 → LP 2050】
Eddie raised his arm to block the impact and said calmly, "So, the Onslaught restriction forces me to attack, and the Silver Mirror Wall's counter-attack triggers during the attack.
This combination ensures Zok's defeat."
"No, it's not just Zok's defeat." You Xuan shook his finger, "It's to ensure your complete defeat."
Eddie: "!"
"Sangan's effect: When this card destroys a monster by battle, Special Summon 1 'Needle Token' in Defense Position on your side of the field, face-up."
【Needle Token, DEF 500】
"At this moment, the effect of the Continuous Trap, 'Summon Limit - Onslaught' is activated." You Xuan explained, "The Special Summoned monster is forced to switch to Attack Position."
【Needle Token, ATK 500】
Eddie: "!"
His pupils constricted. Throughout the duel, his calm expression finally showed a hint of surprise.
Sangan's effect: When it destroys a monster, a Token is Special Summoned to the opponent's field.
'Summon Limit - Onslaught' forces Special Summoned monsters to attack and change to Attack Position.
In other words, the Summoned Token must attack Sangan. Sangan destroys the Token, and a new Token is Summoned. The new Token is forced to attack again, continuing the mandatory attack.
This is an infinite loop!
In the midst of his astonishment, the Needle Token collided with Sangan again, self-destructing. Of course, its attack power was also halved by the Silver Mirror Wall.
【Eddie, LP 2050 → LP 400】
"By destroying a monster in battle again, Sangan continues to Special Summon a 'Needle Token' on your field." You Xuan explained, "Due to the effect of 'Summon Limit', the Token is forced to switch to Attack Position and must attack."
【Needle Token, ATK 500】
He paused and smiled.
"This is the final blow. Any last words?"
At this moment, Eddie finally recovered from the shock of this sudden infinite loop.
Then, he regained his composure and smiled at You Xuan.
"Impressive, memorable, and worthy of admiration. No wonder you're the absolute king of the dueling world."
As he spoke, darkness swirled in Eddie's eyes. His mouth didn't move, as if the words weren't coming from him, yet a voice seemed to emanate from within him.
"Looking forward to our next encounter."
You Xuan frowned.
Next encounter? What does that mean? But at this moment, the Needle Token was reluctantly forced to switch to Attack Position due to the trap's effect and charged towards Sangan again in a suicidal manner.
The small Sangan struck with another simple yet effective palm strike, shattering the tiny Token and ending the match.
【Eddie, LP 400 → LP 0】
(End of Chapter)
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