Xiao Wen's Combo

"W-what... their attack and defense switched?!"

Sona's face was filled with disbelief as she watched Reinforced Golem and Archer Mermaid switch their attack and defense. The latter fired an arrow that pierced the golem.

With a bang, the golem crumbled into dust, and her Life Points dropped by three hundred.

"Interesting. It seems you've gradually grasped the techniques of dueling. I just wonder how far a rookie like you can really go." Sona sneered.

Xiao Wen remained calm and glanced at the Face-down Card on his field. "I end my turn. Your move."

Sona drew a card, added it to her hand, then selected one and set it in the back row of her Duel Disk.

"Giant Virus in Defense Position. I end my turn."

Xiao Wen frowned. Sona only had one Giant Virus on the field now, yet she had no intention of increasing her monster count.

No matter what you're planning, I'll press forward and defeat you!

The thought flashed through Xiao Wen's mind as he drew a Trap Card—Stamina Booster Super Z.

After adding the Trap Card to his hand, Xiao Wen's gaze fell upon Kuriboh.

"I summon Kuriboh in Defense Position. Archer Mermaid, attack Giant Virus! Fire! Arctic Ice Arrow!"

Drawing her bow, the mermaid fired. A streak of light plunged into Giant Virus, destroying it instantly.

Just as Giant Virus shattered, fine powder suddenly appeared in the sky.

The powder drifted through the air and settled onto Xiao Wen's body. A pain that pierced deep into his soul struck him, and Xiao Wen frowned slightly. Looking down, he saw that his LP had fallen by another 500, leaving him with only 2100.

"H-how is that possible?"

Xiao Wen's face was full of shock. He had no idea how he had been attacked.

"Impossible? Nothing is impossible. I forgot to tell you about Giant Virus's hidden ability. When it's destroyed, it deals five hundred points of damage to the enemy." Sona sneered. At the same time, two streaks of light shot out from her deck and landed on the field—two Giant Viruses in Defense Position.

"There's one more thing I forgot to tell you. When Giant Virus is destroyed, it can summon monsters with the same name from the deck in Defense Position."

"What?!"

Xiao Wen looked at the two Giant Viruses on her field, his expression turning grim. "I set one card and end my turn."

"What's wrong? Did seeing the two Giant Viruses on my field scare you out of attacking? Coward!"

"I offer the two Giant Viruses on my field as tributes! Summon! Egg Dragon!"

Two beams of light rose from the Giant Viruses and transformed into a streak of radiance. In the next moment, a white dragon egg appeared on the field.

Suddenly, a crisp crack came from the egg. Several cracks spread across its shell as plump limbs emerged. Two holes opened on its front, glowing red—they were Egg Dragon's eyes.

Egg Dragon: Level 7; Dragon race/Fire

ATK: 2200; DEF: 2600

Description: A dragon wrapped in an eggshell, possessing mysterious and unknown power. Underestimate it, and you'll suffer badly.

"Two... two thousand two hundred attack power?"

Xiao Wen's eyes widened, his face filled with horror.

The next moment, Sona gave the attack command. Egg Dragon charged at Archer Mermaid and tore her apart. The aftermath of the battle struck Xiao Wen, dropping his Life Points by another 800, leaving only 1300.

"Rookie duelist, you only beat me last time because you got lucky. But the same luck won't come twice. Today, I'll let you taste the bitterness of utter defeat!"

"Utter defeat?" Xiao Wen narrowed his eyes, endured the pain, and looked up at Sona. "Other than that person, I've never lost to anyone else. To me, one loss was enough! You're still nowhere near qualified to make me lose!"

"Draw!"

He raised a card—it was the Quick-Play Magic Card, Gamble Dice.

"Luck won't come twice? Then let's see just how good my luck really is!"

Xiao Wen raised a card from his hand. It bore an azure cross and radiated blue-white light, symbolizing the revival of life.

Monster Reborn Magic Card

Effect: Can summon Monster Cards from either your or your opponent's graveyard onto the field.

"Activate the Magic Card, Monster Reborn! I summon Reinforced Golem from your graveyard! At the same time, I summon Karate Man from my hand!"

Reinforced Golem appeared, and beside it stood a fighter wearing a karate uniform.

"One monster has 1600 attack power, while the other has 1000. What are you trying to do? Do you think those two inferior monsters can take down my Egg Dragon? Dream on. My Egg Dragon has 2200 attack power."

"Is that so? I activate Karate Man's special ability. At the cost of destroying this card, its attack power rises to 2000! At the same time, I activate the Quick-Play Magic Card from my hand—Gamble Dice!"

A little angel appeared holding a die and tossed it into the air. The die rolled before finally landing on six.

Gamble Dice's effect was completely opposite to Monster Dice's. The latter reduced the opponent's monsters' attack and defense, while the former increased his own monsters' attack and defense.

However, the amount increased or reduced by both was the rolled number multiplied by 100.

"Six!"

Sona's expression immediately darkened when she saw the result.

"It seems the goddess of luck is still on my side. Because of Gamble Dice's effect, Karate Man and Reinforced Golem gain six hundred attack power."

"Karate Man, attack Egg Dragon!"

Xiao Wen pointed at Egg Dragon with one hand. Karate Man let out a low shout, bent his knees into a horse stance, and a pale white current of air suddenly rose around him. His attack power surged to 2600.

Hah!

With a low shout, Karate Man dashed forward and swung a karate chop at Egg Dragon.

"You want to attack? Keep dreaming! Flip over my Face-down Card! Mystical Space Typhoon! Didn't expect this, did you? The card that turned your defeat into victory last time is now in my hands!"

Sona drew a card from her hand and discarded it to the graveyard.

"With this card's effect, all of my opponent's attacks are negated! If I remember correctly, both Karate Man and Gamble Dice only last for one turn. Next turn, I'll finish you!"

"Is that so?"

The corner of Xiao Wen's mouth rose as he revealed a card from his hand.

"I've been waiting for this. Against someone as strong as you, I really can't afford to let my guard down. Your Mystical Space Typhoon did surprise me, but it seems you've forgotten that I still have a Face-down Card."

He spread his fingers and swept one hand forward. The card set on the field flipped open, revealing a six-pointed magic array containing an eerie lamp. Streams of black mist rose from the array, forming a black hand that seized Mystical Space Typhoon.

"Activate! Trap Card! Magic Jammer! At the cost of discarding one card from my hand, your card's effect activation is negated!"

"Karate Man, attack!"

Hah!

Karate Man gave a low shout and rushed forward, bringing down a karate chop that split Egg Dragon in two and dealt 400 damage to Sona.

At the same time, Reinforced Golem, with 2200 attack power, launched an attack and dealt direct damage to Sona.

Her Life Points plummeted, leaving her with only 1100.