Chapter 226
"Due to the effects of [King's Valley of Slumber] and [The Gravekeeper's High Priest], my attack power has increased to 3300 points."
[Gravekeeper's High Priest: Attack Power 2000 → 3300]
"Next, activate the Trap Card, [Ritual of Spirit Summoning]! Special Summon another [Gravekeeper] monster. This effect is also unaffected by [King's Valley of Slumber]."
The face-down card behind the Gravekeeper Chief then opened.
Is there anything else?
"Awaken, [Gravekeeper's Curse Caster]!"
Buzz--!!
Golden light flashed across the field once more, and a sorcerer wielding a wand was summoned onto the field.
[Gravekeeper's Curse Caster: Attack Power 800 → 1300]
[Gravekeeper's High Priest: Attack Power 3300 → 3100]
Gravekeeper Chief: "When this card is Normal Summoned, Flip Summon, or Special Summoned, inflict 500 damage to your opponent."
Sorcerer: @#￥%&*...
After the sorcerer chanted an incantation, the power of the spell erupted from Judai's body.
"Ughhh--!!"
[Yusei Fudo: LP3700→3200]
Meanwhile, because Judai was injured, the lid of the coffin containing the three people on the ground at the bottom of the valley slowly moved, as if it was about to close.
Daidouji cried out in a panic, "It's going to be covered! It's going to be covered!"
Sho: "Judai, cheer up!"
Hayato: "If it's covered, we won't survive."
At this moment, the Gravekeeper Chief smiled and said to Judai, "Can you feel it? The terror of the Dark Duel?"
Judai wiped the sweat from his face. "It hurts a lot, but I can still handle it..."
"Wow~, putting aside how well you fought, you seem to possess a strong will to overcome the Dark Power. But it's alright, you've got a lot more to come."
Chapter Fifty-Eight: Mini Courage
The Gravekeeper Chief played another card from his hand. "Activate the Spell Card [Upgrade Shift] from your hand!"
You can activate this effect by sending 1 face-up monster you control to the Graveyard. Special Summon 1 monster from your Deck that has the same Type and Attribute as the monster in the Graveyard but a Level 1 higher.
[Gravekeeper Chief's Hand: 2 → 1]
"I sent the Level 3 [Gravekeeper's Curse Caster] to the Graveyard, and Special Summon [Gravekeeper's Heavy Cannon] from my Deck."
The sorcerer vanished from everyone's sight, and then a tomb keeper carrying a wooden cannon appeared on the scene.
[Gravekeeper's Heavy Cannon: Attack Power 1400 → 1900]
[Gravekeeper's High Priest: Attack Power 3100 → 3300]
4. As the newly appeared monster appeared, Judai's expression gradually became serious. "The Gravekeeper's Heavy Cannon... does he intend to bypass Stormman and harm me...?"
Gravekeeper Chief: "Only [Gravekeeper's High Priest] on my field has an ATK higher than Stormman, and Stormman cannot be destroyed by battle, so I only need to deal effect damage to you."
He then continued, "[Gravekeeper's Heavy Cannon]'s special effect activates, I sacrifice a non-Gravekeeper monster on my field to inflict 700 damage to my opponent, and I sacrifice myself."
As soon as Can finished speaking, the Gravekeeper Chief had been suspended in mid-air disappeared again in an instant, and then reappeared on the platform where he had just been.
The next moment, the heavy gunner raised the cannon barrel and pulled the trigger. A flame-breathing shell shot out of the muzzle and flew directly towards Judai.
Boom--!!
Four "Ughh...
[Yusei Fudo: LP3200→2500]
The Judai collapsed to his knees, utterly exhausted.
"Judai!?"
Asuka called out worriedly.
"Don't worry, Asuka, I'm fine."
Judai raised his head with a pained expression.
At the same time, the three coffin lids at the bottom of the valley closed up a little more, and the three people were almost crying with fear.
The Gravekeeper Chief then said, "Since another [Gravekeeper] monster has appeared in the graveyard, the [Gravekeeper's High Priest]'s attack power has increased by another 200 points."
[Gravekeeper's High Priest: Attack Power 3300 → 3500]
He then waved his hand and gave the order, "Take this! [Gravekeeper's High Priest] attacks [Elemental HERO Storm Neos]!"
The high priest raised his golden serpent staff once more, and a golden beam of light shot out instantly.
Boom--!!
The moment the attack landed on Stormman, Judai suffered an additional portion of the damage.
"Hmph! Ahhhhhh--!!"
[Yusei Fudo: LP2500→1800]
Judai gritted his teeth, his eyes still clear.
The Gravekeeper Chief looked at him with an admiring expression. "Wow~, your will is truly strong; even in this state, you still refuse to give up."
Upon hearing this, Judai chuckled, "It's hard to find a worthy opponent like you. I'm going to enjoy this rare duel to the fullest."
Upon hearing this, the Gravekeeper Chief looked surprised. "Enjoying... it?"
"Interesting, but how long can you hold out?"
He played his last Spell Card: "It's not over yet, I'll activate the Spell Card [Gravekeeper's Stone Tablet] from my hand!"
"Add two [Gravekeeper] monsters from your Graveyard to your hand. This effect is not affected by the effect of [King's Valley of Slumber]."
"I reclaim the graveyard [Gravekeeper's Curse Caster] and myself into my hand."
[Gravekeeper Chief's Hand: 1 → 2]
[Gravekeeper's High Priest: Attack Power 3500 → 3100]
"That concludes my turn."
Asuka clenched her fists nervously. "This is bad. [Gravekeeper's Curse Caster] can deal direct effect damage, and [Gravekeeper Chief]'s effect can revive [Gravekeeper's Heavy Cannon]. If we don't draw the card that will decide the outcome this turn, we'll be in danger when it's his turn."
Hearing her words, Judai smiled easily, "Don't worry, Asuka. I've always believed in my deck; it definitely won't let me down."
"My turn, draw a card!"
[Yusei Fudo's card pack: 1→2]
After glancing at the card he had drawn, he inserted it into the Duel Disk without hesitation. "I activate the Spell Card [Pot of Greed and Humility] from my hand."
"Flip over the top three cards of your deck, choose one to add to your hand, and return the rest to your deck."
The Gravekeeper Chief crossed his arms. "Increasing the chance of drawing a key card, huh... Let me see if you can conjure a miracle."
Soon, Judai flipped over the first card.
"The first one, [Miracle Fusion]!"
Fusion Summon can be performed by banishing monsters from the Graveyard, but this cannot be done properly due to the effect of King's Valley.
I had no choice but to turn to the next one.
"The second one, [Holy Shield - Mirror Force]!"
As an offensive card, it takes a turn to activate its effect, but since the High Priest's effect cannot be destroyed, and the Gravekeeper Chief has two monsters, Spellcaster and Heavy Gunner, that can deal effect damage without attacking, this card's usefulness is also limited.
That leaves only one card.
"The third one, [Mini Courage]!"
Upon seeing the card, Judai's eyes lit up, and he placed it in his left hand without hesitation.
Then he placed another card from his hand onto the Duel Disk: "Here I go, I summon [Elemental HERO Bubbleman] in Attack Position."
Buzz--!!
A burst of light effects flashed across his field, Bubbleman appeared on the field accompanied by a large number of bubbles.
[Elemental HERO Bubbleman: Attack Power 800]
The monster immediately played its cards after entering the field, "Activate the Spell Card [Mini Courage]!"
You can activate this effect by Tributing 1 monster you control and then targeting 1 face-up monster your opponent controls. The targeted monster's ATK becomes 0 until the End Phase. If the targeted monster is destroyed by battle and sent to your opponent's Graveyard this turn, inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's original ATK.
[Yusei Fudo's card pack: 2 → 0]
"What?"
This effect is similar to that of Flame Wingman, and it's a card that Judai would include in his deck. (Judai: Yuma, can I borrow this for a moment?)
Judai pointed to the blue warrior beside him and said, "I offer Bubbleman as a sacrifice; [Gravekeeper's Heavy Cannon]'s attack power becomes zero for this turn."
Bubbleman vanished from the field in an instant.
[Gravekeeper's Heavy Cannon: Attack Power 1900 → 0]
The Gravekeeper Chief panicked immediately, "Oh no!!"
At the same time, Judai waved his arm and shouted, "Go! Attack [the Gravekeeper's Heavy Cannon]! Chaos Storm!"
Stormman unleashed his light cannon again, blasting it towards the Heavy Gunner.
Boom--!!!
The total damage of 4200 points instantly wiped out the opponent's health.
"Uh..."
[Gravekeeper Chief: LP3500→0]
Chapter 59 The Seven Stars Begin Operation
After the trial ended, Judai habitually exclaimed his catchphrase, "I won! What an interesting duel!"
Upon hearing this, the Gravekeeper Chief was shocked. "What? You actually find that Dark Duel interesting?"
"Because no matter what kind of duel it is, as long as it's against a strong duelist, it's something to be grateful for. Although it hurts a bit when I get hurt, I still enjoy the duel with you guys."
The Gravekeeper Chief sighed, "No one has ever had such an enjoyment of dueling as you, not even the person who passed the trial before."
Then he took a pendant off his neck and handed it to Judai.
"This is for you."
Judai instinctively caught it, looked at the half of the pendant in his hand, and asked in confusion, "Dark Item? But is this only half?"
The Gravekeeper Chief explained to him, "The remaining half is in the hands of another man who has passed the trial."
"This item might be helpful when you engage in Dark Duel in the future."
"Really? Thank you then. I'll accept this."
Judai gladly accepted the prop he was given.
The Gravekeeper Chief nodded with satisfaction. "You have passed the trial. You can leave here with your companions."
Asuka's face lit up with joy. "That's great, Judai."
"Um."
In the blink of an eye, everyone was back in front of the stone archway.
Upon being released, Daidouji smiled and said to Judai, "As expected of our Osiris Red's student~ Meow."
Judai raised an eyebrow slightly. "Eh? What do you mean by suddenly bringing this up, Teacher Daidouji?"
"Ah, that... what a tense duel! Haha... I think it's even better than Blue and Yellow! Meow, hahahaha..."
Judai thought to himself, 'What an awkward answer! It's so nonsensical.'