Lockdown Duel

Kajiki let out a long, heavy sigh.

He was such an idiot, truly.

He had watched yesterday's match and simply assumed this Emissary of the Netherworld would send his monsters to a different dimension just like he did against Manjoume. He never expected him to switch tactics this time and start playing a stall deck.

But speaking of which, why did this guy have so many different Netherworld strategies?

Didn't he have a single straightforward battle strategy?

This time, Kajiki finally realized that the person standing opposite him wasn't a person, but a dog. His Perfect Mechanical King hadn't attacked yet, but even if it did, it would be meaningless.

The effect of Power of the Guardians didn't say it was once per turn. Even if he could summon five monsters at once and attack, it would just be a loop of "place counter - remove counter - battle destruction negated."

And so, helpless, he could only stare blankly and end his turn.

Then it was Kira's turn again. Kira didn't waste any time talking, skipping straight to the Battle Phase without even summoning a monster. The Magic Attack Soldier flew brazenly over the opponent's front row, unleashing a barrage of attacks directly.

And the moment it attacked, the effect of Power of the Guardians triggered again, adding another magic counter. The Magic Attack Soldier's effect boosted its attack back to 1100, delivering a critical hit of eleven hundred damage.

[Kajiki Makoto, LP 3400 → LP 2300]

"I'll set one more card and end my turn," Kira said.

"Damn it... it's my turn."

Kajiki's sense of crisis intensified. He had to find a way to deal with that damn combo on the other side, otherwise, at this rate, he might actually be directly attacked and defeated.

"Draw!"

Kajiki drew a card, and catching a glimpse of it, he immediately burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! Achieving an unbreakable combo through the synergy of Equip Spells and monster effects is indeed a clever strategy. But! My countermeasure is even better!

From my hand, I activate the Quick-Play Spell - Cyclone! It can destroy one Spell or Trap Card on the field. I will destroy the Equip Spell 'Power of the Guardians'!"

A dark cyclone swirled, and the Spell Card in Kira's back row instantly shattered into pieces. The golden shield on the Magic Attack Soldier dissipated, and its ATK returned to its original value.

Kajiki had researched his opponent's previous matches beforehand. He had long noticed that this person named Kira might be a stall player, seemingly particularly fond of those Red Traps that make people's lives miserable.

That's why his deck was already packed with three copies of Cyclone and one "Heavy Storm," specifically to counter stall decks.

[Magic Attack Soldier, ATK 1100 → ATK 600]

"A good strategy, but that Spell Card itself is a weakness in your approach," Kajiki said smugly. "Battle! Go, Perfect Mechanical King, crush that disgusting fodder for me!"

The Mechanical King also seemed to have been holding back just like him, and upon receiving the command, it eagerly rushed forward without hesitation, raising its iron hammer, ready to smash that hateful little thing into dust.

"Flip my Set Card."

Kira snapped his fingers, and his back row card flipped open.

"Continuous Trap - Supergravity Net. All monsters on either side of the field with a Level of four or higher cannot attack."

Kajiki: "..."

You gotta be kidding me.

Kajiki felt as if a thousand Lava Golems were stampeding through his heart. He had one Level 4 monster and one Level 8 monster on his field, and the Cyclone he just drew had already been used on Power of the Guardians. This single card once again completely sealed off all his attacks.

But he still had a way!

"I Normal Summon 'Dark Blaster', in Defense Position."

[Dark Blaster, DEF 1500]

"I end my turn."

"I see, you have that move," Kira said, understanding.

He remembered this card; it was a monster Judai Yuki used in the anime. Simply put, its effect allows it to destroy the opponent's Spell/Trap Cards on the following turn.

This meant that as long as this thing survived until the next turn, it could destroy Kira's "Supergravity Net" lock and allow him to attack.

This was also an adjustment Kajiki made for this match, his struggle as a Sunny Meta duelist facing a stall player from The Netherworld.

But it didn't matter.

"My turn, draw." Kira drew a card, then without hesitation, "From my hand, I activate the Continuous Spell 'Level Limit - Area B'.

As long as this card is on the field, all monsters on both sides of the field with a Level of four or higher are changed to Defense Position."

[Mechanical Sergeant, ATK 1600 → DEF 1800]

[Perfect Mechanical King, ATK 3700 → DEF 1500]

Kajiki Makoto felt like spitting blood.

Seriously, where do you even get this stuff, man?

Kajiki was utterly astonished now. He never would have imagined someone could play like this; this wasn't participating in a tournament, this was just trying to spite society, wasn't it?

So even if Dark Blaster's effect activated next turn, he could only destroy one Spell or Trap Card. But the situation now was that no matter if he destroyed [Supergravity Net] or [Level Limit - Area B], as long as one remained on the field, he still couldn't attack.

And he also noticed that the Magic Attack Soldier was Level 3, just under the Level 4 limit. This meant only he couldn't attack; Kira could attack freely.

Kira: "However, just in case, I'll activate the Spell Card 'Shield Crash', choosing one Defense Position monster on the field to destroy. I'll destroy 'Dark Blaster'."

Kajiki Makoto: "..."

That's not all.

"Next, I summon 'Emissary of the Afterlife' from my hand in Attack Position."

Emissary of the Afterlife, ATK 700

"This card's effect is the same as Magic Attacker; it can also attack directly." Kira paused, a slight smile on his face. "Incidentally, Emissary of the Afterlife is also Level 3, so it's unaffected by the effects of both 'Level Limit - Area B' and 'Supergravity Net'."

Kajiki: "..."

He wanted to say no, that thing of yours isn't Emissary of the Afterlife.

It's an Emissary of the Netherworld.

"Magic Attacker, Emissary of the Afterlife, direct attack!"

Two direct attacks in a row!

Perfect Mechanical King and Mechanical Sergeant watched helplessly as these two annoying little things elegantly flew right over their heads, one after another, and proceeded to pound their owner into the ground.

The monsters were currently being attacked, very angry, but completely helpless.

Kajiki, LP 2300 → LP 1000

Kajiki didn't say a word, but veins were popping on the back of his hands and his forehead. He was visibly boiling, probably at 90% red zone.

"I set one card and end my turn."

"My turn."

Kajiki took a deep breath.

Calm down, gotta stay calm.

As the dojo master said, the more critical the situation, the less you should panic. You won't know the outcome of a duel until the very last second.

Believe in your deck, remember the daily drawing practice.

And now is the time to prove that training paid off.

Kajiki closed his eyes tightly and muttered inwardly.

Could I draw another Cyclone!

"Draw!"

The next moment, Kajiki practically jumped on the spot.

This draw... it created a miracle!

"From my hand, I activate the Spell Card 'Heavy Storm'!" Kajiki raised the card high like a priest performing a ritual. "It destroys all Spell and Trap Cards on both sides of the field!"

Heavy Storm, the strongest backrow clearing divine artifact, flipping the table indiscriminately.

"He actually drew a backrow clear this turn," Kira mumbled to himself. "Is it true that in the anime world, even random characters get a Divine Draw when they're in a bind?"

However...

Kira snapped his fingers.

"Flip the set card. Counter Trap - Judgment of Anubis."

Kajiki was still grinning sinisterly. "Muda! Heavy Storm is the strongest enemy of Spells and Traps, nothing can stand before the Great Storm... huh? Wait a minute, what is that?"

"Judgment of Anubis can only be activated when your opponent activates a Spell Card with an effect that includes 'destroying Spell/Trap Cards on the field'."

Kira explained calmly.

"By discarding one card from my hand, I negate and destroy the effect activation of that Spell Card. Also, after that, I select one face-up monster on your field and destroy it, then inflict damage to you equal to that monster's ATK."

Kajiki narrowed his eyes.

Negate the activation of Heavy Storm, and then destroy a monster and inflict damage equal to its ATK...

"..."

Nani!?!?

Amidst his shock, the storm dissipated under some unseen curse. A dark aura spread across the field, taking the fierce form of Anubis God, glaring angrily towards Kajiki's field.

"According to its effect, I will destroy 'Perfect Mechanical King' on your field," Kira said, gesturing. "Take damage equal to 'Perfect Mechanical King''s ATK, which is 3700."

Anubis God opened its mouth, and a terrifying black breath erupted. Perfect Mechanical King's body instantly melted within it, and the powerful dark current continued unabated, engulfing Kajiki as well.

"Ugh... AAAAAAH!!!"

The physical impact equivalent to 3700 points of damage sent Kajiki crashing to the ground. As he fell, his eyes were still wide open, looking like he couldn't rest in peace.

It was as if he was saying, even if he were nailed into a coffin and buried in the ground, he would shout with a decaying voice—

—"I've never seen someone so intent on messing with the world!"

Kajiki, LP 1000 → LP 0