Kuriboh crossed its two little wings in front of itself as Kycōr swooped in with its pair of blade-like scythes, slashing against Kuriboh's gilded wings and making their surface shimmer.
Its trembling wings burst apart, transforming into two crossing blades of wind that struck Kycōr.
Bang!
Kycōr was instantly sent flying backward and crashed to the ground.
The wind blades did not lose momentum and struck Sona, drawing a muffled groan as her PL dropped by 300.
"Hmph! You've got some skill after all!"
Sona snorted, a strange glint flashing through her eyes. She drew a card, set it in the back row, and ended her turn.
"My skills are far from limited to that. I'm gradually getting used to the rules here."
"My turn, draw!"
Monster Card: Spike Sea Dragon
Spike Sea Dragon — Sea Dragon/Water:
ATK: 1600; DET: 1300
Description: Attacks enemies with the spikes on its body and can release electric currents.
"Looks like it's time for me to strike back."
Xiao Wen's lips curled upward as he placed Spike Sea Dragon into his Duel Disk.
"Summon Spike Sea Dragon!"
The card transformed into a stream of deep-blue light. A condensed sphere of water suddenly appeared on the field, containing a massive shadow.
"Roar..."
With a dragon's cry, the enormous Spike Sea Dragon emerged. Its body was covered in faint golden fur—or what appeared to be fur. In truth, they were fine, sharp spikes.
"Spike Sea Dragon, attack Kycōr! Kuriboh, attack Flame Manipulator!"
With two commands issued in quick succession, the two monsters moved together, destroying Sona's monsters and dealing 400 damage to her.
Xiao Wen's PL: 2000; Sona's PL: 3300.
"Let you have a little taste of success first. My turn, draw! Pot of Greed! Activate Pot of Greed's effect and draw two cards from the deck."
Her fingers moved rapidly, and two cards appeared in her hand. A deep smile flashed in Sona's eyes. "Your luck has run out!"
"Summon the Monster Card, Goblin Attack Force!"
With a low shout, three green-skinned goblins wearing golden helmets appeared, each holding an iron club and glaring viciously at Spike Sea Dragon and Kuriboh on Xiao Wen's field.
Information about Goblin Attack Force flashed through Xiao Wen's mind. It was a powerful Earth-attribute Monster Card with 2300 ATK, but at the end of each turn, it switched to Defense Position—and Goblin Attack Force had zero defense!
"Even if it destroys one of my monsters this turn, as long as I survive this wave, I'll still have a chance!"
As Xiao Wen considered his options, the three goblins charged at Spike Sea Dragon under Sona's command. Their three clubs swung down together, smashing Spike Sea Dragon apart and dealing Xiao Wen 700 damage.
"Set one card. End turn!"
"Phew..." Xiao Wen let out a breath. At this point, he only had 1300 PL left, already nearing the danger line.
"My turn, dra—"
Before Xiao Wen could finish, almost the instant his fingers touched the card, an inexplicable pain swept through his body. He squeezed one eye shut as cold sweat streamed down his face.
At that moment, Xiao Wen saw Sona flip over a Face-down Card on her field.
Trap Card: Goblin Fanfare
Effect: When the opponent's PL is below 3000, deal 500 damage to the opponent during each of their Standby Phases.
His PL dropped again, leaving him with less than 800.
Even with Xiao Wen's exceptional composure, the hand pressing against the card could not help trembling.
Ding! Player's life points are below 1000. Conditions met to use BUFF item: Mysterious Horn — Executioner's Battle Song. Use it?
"Use it!"
Xiao Wen made his choice without hesitation.
A low melody sounded beside Xiao Wen's ears. It gradually rose, bit by bit, shifting from slow to fast and from low to high. In that instant, Xiao Wen suddenly felt as though his soul had been elevated. Immense courage filled his heart, and his blood boiled throughout his body.
At that moment, he seemed to possess the strongest will, fearless of everything!
"Draw!" Xiao Wen's eyes narrowed, a sharp gleam flashing within them. "I finally drew it, my key card! This BGM effect is pretty damn good."
Xiao Wen slowly turned over the card in his hand: the Monster Card Dragon Warrior.
"Activate the Spell Card Fusion from my hand! Fuse Dragon Warrior and Kuriboh!"
"Summon! Dragon Rider Warrior!"
The two cards in his hand and Kuriboh on the field turned into three beams of light and intertwined. When the radiance faded, a warrior riding a golden dragon and wielding a greatsword appeared before Xiao Wen.
"1700 ATK? You're betting your victory on him? You really are trying your best, rookie! Even if you can destroy my Goblin Attack Force, under my Continuous Trap Card, you only have two turns left to live!" Sona snorted.
"Is that so?" Xiao Wen's lips curved up as he swept out his hand. "Activate Dragon Rider Warrior's effect. When the only monsters on the field have Earth, Fire, and Wind attributes, it can directly attack the card holder. So, I choose you as my attack target!"
"Attack!"
The warrior rode his dragon forward, swinging his greatsword and leaving a trail of afterimages as it slashed across Sona. The woman let out a pained cry and nearly dropped to one knee as her life points suddenly fell by 1700.
Her eyes fixed tightly on the card she had set on the field, her face turning cold!
"Set one card. End turn."
Xiao Wen closed his eyes slightly and set the Mystical Space Typhoon from his hand onto the field.
"You foolish rookie, you're actually ignoring my Goblin Attack Force. Should I call you clever or stupid?" Sona sneered. "My turn, draw!"
"Goblin Attack Force, switch to Attack Position. At the same time, summon the Monster Card Cyclops from my hand."
Cyclops — Beast Warrior/Earth
ATK: 1200; DET: 1000
"Goblin Attack Force, attack Dragon Rider Warrior. Cyclops, follow up and attack the opposing player!"
"Rookie! Die!"
Sona laughed wildly with a ferocious expression. The two monsters moved at once and charged toward Xiao Wen.
Xiao Wen remained calm and let out a breath. "Looks like you've run out of tricks. Flip my Face-down Card and activate the Trap Card Mystical Space Typhoon. By discarding one card from my hand, I negate all of your attacks this turn!"
"What!"
The smile froze on Sona's face. She stood there blankly, as if her soul had left her body.
The moment Xiao Wen brought out Mystical Space Typhoon, she knew she had lost.
"I... I actually lost? Lost to a rookie who had only just begun dueling?"
At the end of the turn, Goblin Fanfare's effect activated. Xiao Wen's life points dropped by another 500, leaving him with only 300.
But so what?
Xiao Wen drew a card and directly ordered Dragon Rider Warrior to attack Sona.
The warrior's greatsword slashed down, and a fierce gust swept across the field. Sona was flung away and crashed heavily to the ground, her life points dropping to zero.
Ding! Congratulations, player. You have passed the basic duel trial and become the inheritor of Duel City. Ding! As the inheritor of Duel City, you may choose one of the seven Millennium Artifacts as your reward...
Before you continue