Duelists Never Surrender!

"Hey... aren't you the one who's about to time out?" Sera blinked her emerald eyes and pointed to the five Set Cards that had appeared on the Duel Field at some point. "My turn ended a while ago."

What?! When did she Set those cards?! Wait, she was talking to herself back there, actually stalling for time so I'd lose due to a time-out?!

How despicable!

"Oh, don't be angry," Sera said with an apologetic look on her cute, playful face. "According to my tests, Dark Duels don't seem to have time-out penalties, but maybe it's because the time was too short. If it were any longer, you might have been declared the loser."

"Tch, my turn, Draw Phase!" The man hurriedly drew a card from his Deck, then looked at his hand and a confident smile spread across his face again.

A perfect hand! There's nothing to fear anymore!

"I enter my Main Phase and activate the Continuous Spell Card—Gladiator Repulsion Wave." The man first inserted a Spell Card into his Duel Disk and continued, "Then I activate the Spell Card—Unexpected Roughneck, to add Gladiator Beast Gyzarus from my Deck to my hand."

[Gladiator Beast Gyzarus (Level 4) EARTH Beast-Warrior / Normal ATK: 1900 DEF: 1500]

"Next, I activate the effect of Gladiator Repulsion Wave, to Special Summon Gladiator Beast Hoplomus from my Deck." The man continued speaking.

[Gladiator Beast Hoplomus (Level 4) WIND Winged Beast / Effect ATK: 1500 DEF: 800]

"Then... I return Gyzarus and Hoplomus to the Deck, and Special Summon Gladiator Beast Caesar!"

"Wait, isn't that a Fusion Monster? Don't you need a Fusion Spell Card to Special Summon a Fusion Monster?" Sera looked at the giant bird that had suddenly appeared on the field.

"Hmph, you ignorant fool. Some powerful Fusion Monsters can be Special Summoned directly from the Extra Deck if their summoning conditions are met, even without a Fusion Spell!" The man nodded with satisfaction as he looked at Sera's shocked face. That's right, be shocked! Be terrified! Tremble before my powerful Duel Monsters!

"Oh, is that so..." Sera rubbed her smooth chin, nodding thoughtfully.

"It's not over yet!" The man pointed to Sera's back row. "I activate the effect of Gladiator Beast Caesar. When this card is successfully Special Summoned, you can target up to 2 cards on the field. Destroy those cards. I choose to destroy two of your Set Cards!"

"Huh? You're going to destroy two? I only have five Set Cards... Can you just destroy one?" Sera asked pitifully.

"This is a Dark Duel where we stake our souls, I won't hold back!" the man said calmly.

"Tch, stingy." Sera flipped over one of her Set Cards, and the little girl's usually soft voice suddenly turned as cold as an ice cellar in midwinter. "I Chain and activate the Trap Card—Hole of the Insect Woman. You can activate this when your opponent activates the effect of a monster that was Special Summoned this turn. Negate that effect and destroy it."

"What?!"

A giant spider web descended from the sky, engulfing the blue bird and firmly sticking it within the Hole.

"You have a powerful Trap Card?" The man clenched his fist in frustration, but it was okay, he had only used two cards from his hand, and still had four cards left!

"I haven't used my Normal Summon this turn yet. In that case, I'll Normal Summon Rescue Rabbit."

A chubby, gray-and-white rabbit appeared on the Duel Field, its bright, observant eyes scanning its surroundings.

"I activate the effect of Rescue Rabbit. You can banish this card on the field to activate it. Special Summon two Gladiator Beast Gyzarus from your Deck to the field!"

"Then, because I control a 'Gladiator Beast' monster, I Special Summon Slave Tiger from my hand!"

Following the man's series of actions, three monsters suddenly appeared on the field.

"I activate the effect of Slave Tiger. Tribute this card to return the Gladiator Beast Gyzarus on the field to the Deck, and Special Summon Gladiator Beast Hoplomus from the Deck!"

"Activate Hoplomus's effect. When this card is Special Summoned by the effect of a 'Gladiator Beast' monster, target 1 Spell/Trap Card on the field. Destroy that card." The man pointed to the Set Card in the middle of Sera's field. "I choose to destroy that Set Card of yours!"

"Here we go again." Sera helplessly flipped over an adjacent Set Card. "I activate the Trap Card Lost Wind. Negate the effect of your Gladiator Beast Hoplomus and halve its ATK."

Protected the middle Set Card?

The man grew wary. Sera currently had no monsters on her field, yet she seemed so relaxed. This meant she definitely had a defensive card in her back row.

Was it Sakuretsu Armor or Mirror Force? Or perhaps... Magic Cylinder?!

If it was Magic Cylinder, he couldn't just attack recklessly. It was a shame he only had one Gladiator Beast Caesar in his Deck, otherwise he could have destroyed another Set Card right now.

However, in that case, he'd use Gladiator Beast Nero!

"I activate the Spell Card—Gladiator Beast's Revival, to Special Summon Gladiator Beast Bestiari from my hand!"

"There are three Gladiator Beasts on the field, it's coming!" the man shouted. "I return the three Gladiator Beasts to the Deck and Special Summon from the Extra Deck—Gladiator Beast Nero!"

Heh heh, Gladiator Beast Nero's effect: When this card battles, your opponent cannot activate Spell, Trap, or Monster effects until the end of the Damage Step.

This means defensive Traps are useless against it!

"This monster is huge. I wonder what other effects it has... Whatever, I'll negate it." Sera tilted her head, looking at the giant monster on the field, and slowly flipped over the Set Card on her right. "I Chain and activate the Trap Card—Bottomless Trap Hole. You can activate this when your opponent successfully Normal Summons, Flip Summons, or Special Summons a monster. Those monsters become face-down Defense Position. Monsters that become face-down Defense Position with this effect cannot change their battle position."

"Pfft!"

Chapter 74: Come on, my pride! My soul!

As Gladiator Beast Nero on the field turned into a Set Card, the man's breathing became ragged. Without a doubt, he was now at a severe disadvantage. His full hand of six cards had been completely exchanged for three of Sera's Set Cards!

"I end my turn like this." The man said unwillingly.

"My turn, Draw." Sera's eyes lit up as she looked at the card she drew, and she said without hesitation, "I activate the Spell Card—Pot of Desires. I banish six monsters from my Extra Deck face-down, and draw two cards from my Deck."

"Swish!"

After drawing two cards, Sera slammed a monster onto her Duel Disk. "I Normal Summon Lankaa the Entomologist. I activate the effect of Lankaa the Entomologist to add one "Traptrix" monster from my Deck to my hand. I add Traptrix Tributing to my hand."

Traptrix?!

The Deck known for its Traps?

Having worked as a hunter for years, the man might not have been the strongest, but he certainly had experience. The Traptrix monsters appeared to be cute, young girls, but in reality, they were just disguises for hunters. Behind their lovely and alluring appearances were either giant arthropods or carnivorous plants, waiting for their prey to be enticed by their beauty, approach them, and then... devour them!

No, even so, Lankaa the Entomologist's ATK is only 1500, and my Set Gladiator Beast Nero has a DEF of 1800. She can't attack!

"I'm entering the Battle Phase."

"What?! Wait!" The man forced a smile. "Little girl, are you mistaken about something? Lankaa the Entomologist's ATK is only 1400, and my Gladiator Beast Nero's DEF is 1800. You're not planning to attack my Nero with Lankaa, are you?"

"Oh, is that so?" Sera opened a Set Card expressionlessly. "Then I activate the Trap Card—Metalmorph·Magic Reflection Armor. Targeting Lankaa the Entomologist, Lankaa the Entomologist gains 300 ATK/DEF."

"Wait, wait, wait. Even so, Lankaa only just reached 1800, right?" Cold sweat began to bead on the man's forehead. His intuition told him he couldn't let this little girl attack, or something bad would happen.

"Excuse me, why are you so concerned?" Sera looked at the man, confusion flickering in her emerald eyes. "Aren't we in a Dark Duel? If I make a mistake, shouldn't you be happy?"

"Uh... this... this..." The man stammered, unable to speak. But Sera didn't bother waiting for his reply and said directly:

"I attack Gladiator Beast Nero with Lankaa the Entomologist!"

Gladiator Beast Nero, which had been face-down, flipped over as it was attacked. It let out a deafening roar at the smiling Lankaa the Entomologist, but was swallowed by the giant flower behind Lankaa, disappearing without a trace.

"I knew it. That Trap Card has other effects besides increasing ATK/DEF by 300," the man gritted out, his expression grave.

"Yes, it does," Sera nodded earnestly.

"Then..."

"But why should I tell you?" Sera tilted her head.

"..."

"I'll set one card face-down, and end my turn." Sera placed the card she drew face-down on the field and ended her turn.

Damn brat!

The man's breathing quickened involuntarily. He couldn't believe he was being suppressed in this duel by a girl who looked no older than 16. Is this the new generation of Duelists? They're too terrifying. She uses Trap Cards so skillfully; her Duelist Level must be very high!

But, the hope of victory still exists!

Although I have nothing on my field except a Continuous Spell Card, and my hand is empty, I still have resources in my Graveyard. As long as I draw Monster Reborn or Gladiator Beast's Revival, I still have a chance to turn things around!

"My turn... Draw Phase!"

Come on! My comeback card!

"Swish!!!"

The sharp edges of the card seemed to slice through the air, emitting a piercing sound. The man pursed his lips, and then, he saw it—hope!

The man felt his heart being squeezed tightly, almost stopping from excitement. His previously sallow complexion turned flushed from accelerated blood circulation.

It's here! It's here! It's here!

A card even more powerful than Monster Reborn in this situation!

I drew it!

"Hahaha!" The man burst into laughter with a contorted expression. "I enter the Battle Phase, and then I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card—Gladiator Beast Unity! I return Gladiator Beast Caesar and Gladiator Beast Nero from my Graveyard to the Deck, and Special Summon from the Extra Deck! Come forth, my pride! My soul! Gladiator Beast Director, Chief Duelist!"

"Thump!"

A deer-like humanoid with large golden antlers, wielding a staff, appeared on the Duel Field.

"Hoh, lucky draw," Sera raised an eyebrow. "So, are you going to attack?"

"Hmph, don't think you can trick me!" The man pointed at the face-down card in the center of Sera's field. "You have a Trap Card set there, waiting for an attack declaration."

"Who knows? But because your Gladiator Beast Director, Chief Duelist was successfully summoned, I'll return Lost Wind from my Graveyard to my field." Sera said, placing Lost Wind from her Graveyard back face-down.

"Wait, you can't do that! You have to state the effect when activating a Trap Card," the man couldn't help but accuse. This Duelist was completely different from any he had encountered before, constantly trying to hide information, which was truly unpleasant.

"What? You don't even know the effect of Lost Wind?" Sera looked at him as if he had very little knowledge and said helplessly, "When Lost Wind is in the Graveyard, if the opponent has an Extra Deck Monster on their field, it can be directly set on the field. Cards set with this effect are banished when they leave the field."

"I see. It seems you're not as calm as you appear," the man sneered.

"Hm?" Sera feigned ignorance.

"Still playing dumb? When my Gladiator Beast Nero was successfully summoned, you could have set Lost Wind first, and then activated Bottomless Trap Hole. But because you were afraid of my Gladiator Beast Nero, you hastily activated Bottomless Trap Hole, missing the timing!"

Hmph, a brat is still a brat. I've exposed you now! Come on, show me your timidity and fear before my eyes!

However, contrary to his expectations, Sera simply nodded and waved her hand. "My bad, I'm still a student, please be tolerant. Once I become a professional Duelist, I won't do this anymore. You can curse me from the stands then."

"Oh, my apologies, I forgot," Sera said, then her expression turned ashamed as if she had just remembered something. "You probably won't live to see that day."

Sera's lips curved slightly into a faint smile:

"After all, your soul will rest here."

Chapter 75: You Seem to Have Misunderstood Something, My Dream Isn't to Become a Professional Duelist

Arrogance.

Such arrogance.

It truly makes me tremble with anger.

But after hearing Sera's words, the man understood one thing—this perfectly crafted little girl possessed something he lacked.

It wasn't extraordinary talent or supreme dueling skill.

It was something only the young possessed, something only children had, that vibrant, dazzling thing called "future."

Ah, so that's how it is.

No wonder I like to slaughter young Duelists, because—I'm a loser.

My "future" is already dim and without light.

"Hehehe, become a professional Duelist? You really dare to say that." The man's expression twisted as if a nerve had been struck, and he let out a sinister roar, "Let me shatter this impractical, ridiculously outrageous, bubble-like dream for you right here!"

"I enter Main Phase 2!" the man declared, "Then, I activate the effect of Gladiator Beast Director, Chief Duelist. Once per turn, I can Special Summon 1 'Gladiator Beast' Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck, ignoring its Summoning conditions!"

"Appear once more, Gladiator Beast Caesar!"

The green bird-man let out a crisp cry and reappeared on the field.

"Next, I activate the effect of Gladiator Beast Caesar to destroy two cards on your field!" The man's gaze fell upon the two unknown Set Cards, but...

That Trap Card equipped to the monster seemed to have a special effect, and the monster on my field had no resistance. Moreover, she was still holding a monster card in her hand...

"I'll destroy your Traptrix Tributing and the Lost Wind you just Set!"

Lost Wind has the effect of halving a monster's ATK. If it remained, the opponent would definitely use it to destroy my Chief Duelist on the field.

As two beams of white light shot out, Sera's Lost Wind was sent to the Graveyard, and Lankaa turned into white light and entered the GY.