Chapter 261
"No..." Ryo Marufuji shook his head and continued, "In a battle against you, brute force alone is unreliable, so this time I will not summon [Cyber End Dragon]."
"I banish [Cyber Dragon II], [Proto-Cyber Dragon], and [Cyber Ouroboros] from my Graveyard and Special Summon [Cyber Eternity Dragon] in Defense Position Yugi!"
The three cards from the graveyard immediately popped out, followed by a dazzling light effect on the field. A giant mechanical dragon, about a hundred meters long and made of gold and silver, appeared on the field, its massive body filling the entire platform and acting as a barrier to protect it.
[Cyber Eternity Dragon: Defense 4000]
Ryo Marufuji, arms crossed, explained, "The special effect of [Cyber Eternity Dragon] is that when there is Machine-Type Fusion Monster in your Graveyard, this card cannot be targeted by your opponent's card effects, nor can it be destroyed by their card effects."
"My graveyard contains the [Cyber Twin Dragon], therefore the [Cyber Eternity Dragon] will form an iron wall to protect me."
Upon hearing this, Judai nodded knowingly. "I see. They've temporarily abandoned their aggressive tactics and are using a more conservative approach to fight me."
"However, [Cyber Eternity Dragon] only has 2800 ATK, so let it continue to be your shield..." Judai raised his Duel Disk and continued, "Based on the effect of Dark Fiend, I'm adding [Form Change] cards from my deck to my hand."
As soon as he finished speaking, a card popped out of the deck.
He casually took it and immediately played. "Quick-Play Spell [Form Change] activated, return the Dark Fiend on the field to the Deck, Special Summon another [Masked HERO] of the same Level."
"Henshin! Appear, [Masked HERO Saber]!"
Suddenly, the armor on Dark Fiend emitted a blinding light. When the light disappeared, Masked HERO reappeared in front of us, now wearing golden armor.
"The effect of Lightfang is that when your opponent controls a monster, its ATK increases by 500 for each monster on their field."
[Masked HERO Saber: Attack Power 2500 → 3000]
After that, Judai buried two more cards in his hand in the back row.
"Finally, cover two more cards, and the turn ends."
[Yusei Fudo's card pack: 2 → 0]
Seeing that Judai had finally finished his turn, Ryo Marufuji curled the corners of his lips. "Hmph~, as expected, I can't be too aggressive in a duel with you. All you do is launch relentless attacks."
Principal Samejima muttered worriedly under his breath, "Ryo is very different today. Is it because his opponent is Judai, and he has to be cautious?"
Meanwhile, Ryo Marufuji began his own round.
"My turn, draw a card!"
[Ryo Marufuji's hand cards: 0→1]
He calmly drew a card and, without hesitation, played it, saying, "Activate the Spell Card [Foolish Burial], send a monster from the Deck to the Graveyard."
[Ryo Marufuji's hand cards: 1→0]
Without a ripple of emotion, Ryo Marufuji placed a card into the graveyard and ended his turn without saying a word.
Seeing this, Judai's face showed slight disappointment. "Trying to stall until [Cyber End Dragon] appears, what a passive strategy..."
"But this test ends here. I will not allow you to summon it."
"My turn, draw a card!"
[Yusei Fudo's hand cards: 0→1]
Judai glanced at his hand briefly before immediately placing it on the Duel Disk: "Summon [Elemental HERO Flame Man] in Attack Position!"
Buzz--!!
With a flash of golden light, Flame Warrior was instantly summoned to the scene.
[Elemental HERO Flame Man - Attack Power 1200]
[Yusei Fudo's card pack: 1 → 0]
"Based on the effect of this card when it is introduced, add one [Polymerization] card from your Deck to your hand and activate it to Polymerization [Elemental HERO] and Light Attribute monster on the field."
Blaze and Lightfang were instantly engulfed by the Polymerization vortex, bursting into a dazzling flash.
"Fusion Summon! Appear, [Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman]!"
The next second, Shining Flare Wingman emerged from the light and landed on Judai's field.
[Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman - Attack Power 2600]
He then quickly pressed the button on a face-down card at his feet, "Open face-down card, activate Trap Card [Sage Alchemist]!"
You can banish 4 [HERO] monsters from your Graveyard and face-up monsters on your field, then target 1 [HERO] monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon that monster regardless of its Summoning conditions. If this effect is activated by banishing all [EARTH], [WATER], [FIRE], and [WIND] attributes, the original ATK of the monster Special Summoned by this effect is doubled, and the effects of all face-up cards on your opponent's field are negated.
"I banish Graveyard Winged HERO, Burst Lady, Clayman, and Bubbleman. Light Fang is Special Summoned with twice its original ATK, ignoring Summoning conditions, and the effects of [Future Fusion] and [Cyber Eternity Dragon] on your field are negated, Kaiser!"
"What?"
A beam of white light shot up from the Judai, and Koga reappeared from the light.
[Masked HERO Saber: Attack Power 2500 → 5500]
Chapter 116 Trial of the Rivals
Seeing Koga's increasingly powerful aura, Ryo Marufuji's expression turned somewhat grave. "His attack power is 5500 points...!? Is this your card to counter [Power Bond]?"
"Yes, that's right!" Judai nodded, then continued, "Not only that, Shining Flare Wingman's attack power is determined by the number of [Elemental HERO] excluded; for each one, the attack power increases by 300 points."
[Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman - Attack Power 2600 → 3800]
Asuka in the audience exclaimed, "Judai used just one Trap Card to boost the attack power of two monsters to a terrifying level. No wonder it's a powerful card created by combining the power of the Phantom Demon and the Philosopher's Stone!"
Daichi Misawa continued, "It's not just that. Due to the effect of [Sage Alchemist], the effect of [Cyber Eternity Dragon] on the field is nullified, so Lightfang can target it as another effect."
As expected, Judai immediately swung his hand and shouted, "Light Fang's monster effect is activated! Banish [Elemental HERO Flame Man] from the Graveyard, and [Cyber Eternity Dragon]'s ATK is reduced by 1200 for this turn!"
[Cyber Eternity Dragon: Attack Power 2800 → 1600]
"And since another [Elemental HERO] monster has been banished, Shining Flare Wingman's attack power increases by 300 points."
[Elemental HERO Shining Flare Wingman: Attack Power 3800 → 4100]
"""Oh--!!!"""
"If this round of battle goes ahead, Judai- kun will be the winner!"
"Is this how the graduation duel is going to end?"
"No, Lord Liang!"
When two monsters with attack power of over 4100 appeared on the field in the Judai, the audience erupted in cheers, with some rejoicing and others worried.
After a moment's hesitation, Judai waved his hand and roared, "Attack! First, use Shining Flare Wingman to attack Cyber Eternity Dragon!"
At his command, the solar halo behind Shining Flare Wingman released a dazzling light, instantly detonating the Cyber Eternity Dragon, which was pierced by the intense light.
Boom--!!
A violent explosion kicked up a thick cloud of dust, and Ryo Marufuji's voice came from inside. "Unfortunately, Judai, the battle isn't over yet."
"..." Judai, of course, knew why.
"When a [Cyber Eternity Dragon] Fusion Summon is sent to the Graveyard by your opponent, Special Summon one [Cyber Dragon] from your hand, Deck, and Graveyard."
As soon as Ryo Marufuji finished speaking, the smoke in the arena dissipated, revealing him and a Cyber Dragon.
[Cyber Dragon: Defense 1600]
Fubuki Tenjo: "Well! This is Kaiser. His duel is perfect."
Asuka shook her head. "But compared to Ryo, the one with the advantage is Judai."
Furthermore, there's still one monster that Judai hasn't attacked yet; the battle isn't over.
Ryo Marufuji continued, "At the same time, since the Fusion Monster [Cyber Eternity Dragon] was destroyed by battle, based on the monster effect of [Cyber Lighthouse] in the Graveyard, I can add one [Power Bond] from my Deck to my hand by banishing this card as a trade."
[Ryo Marufuji's hand cards: 0→1]
Upon hearing this, Judai frowned. "So this is the card that [Foolish Burial] put in the graveyard...?"
"Then I'll use Light Fang to attack Cyber Dragon again!"
Under Judai's command, Koga immediately charged forward, using the fangs equipped on his arms to pierce the mechanical dragon's body. The pierced Cyber Dragon instantly exploded into dust with a bang.
[Masked HERO Saber: Attack Power 5500 → 5000]
After finishing, Judai pressed the button for another face-down card, "It's not over yet, I'll open another Trap Card [Destruction Potion]!"
"The effect of this card is: Destroy one monster you control, and my Life Points will be restored equal to that monster's ATK."
"I destroyed the Shining Flare Wingman on the field, restoring 4100 health points."
Bang!
As the Trap Card's effect took hold, Shining Flare Wingman exploded into pieces in the blink of an eye.
[Yusei Fudo: LP4000→8100]
"And when Shining Flare Wingman is sent from the field to the graveyard, you may choose to add up to two banished [Elemental HERO] cards to your hand."
"I'm adding Bubbleman and Blaze Man to my hand."
[Yusei Fudo's hand cards: 0→2]
"Beautiful, Judai!" Ryo Marufuji couldn't help but exclaim. "Not only did it restore a large amount of HP and strengthen its defense, but it also recycled the two [Elemental HERO] units that were excluded to prepare for the next turn. Moreover, the Shining Flare Wingman placed in the graveyard can be used as the cost for the Light Fang effect. It's truly a perfect combination, seamless."
Judai chuckled and nodded, continuing, "It's not just that. When it's my next turn, because of the effect of [Future Fusion], Elemental HERO Neos will appear. When it successfully Fusion Summon, it will definitely activate its effect to send all banished cards back to the deck. This also avoids the awkward situation of Shining Flare Wingman's attack power decreasing, so it's making the most of its resources."
"Dueling you has truly shown me so much more..."
With that, Ryo Marufuji forcibly ended Judai's turn and drew a card.
"My turn, draw a card!"
[Ryo Marufuji's cue cards: 1→2]
After confirming the draw, he continued, "During my preparation phase, the Continuous Spell [Future Fusion] activated two turns ago was supposed to Special Summon [Cyber End Dragon], but due to the effect of [Sage Alchemist], this follow-up effect can no longer take effect."
So he immediately played the card he had drawn that turn, "Activate the Spell Card [Pot of Greed], draw two cards from your deck."
[Ryo Marufuji's cue cards: 2→3]
Immediately afterwards, he placed a Spell Card on the field area, "Field Spell [Trial of the Rivals] activated!"
"As long as this card is on the field, all damage taken by players with less life points than their opponent becomes zero."
Upon seeing the card, Judai frowned. "It's this card? Is he planning to use [Power Bond] and go all in?"
"I really do need to use [Power Bond] to fight you, Judai!" Ryo Marufuji pointed at the Field Spell and said, "I'll pay 1000 Life Points as a price to activate another effect of [Trial of the Rivals], choosing one of the following three effects: 'Draw a card,' 'Destroy this card,' or 'Recover 1000 Life Points from your opponent.'"
[Ryo Marufuji: LP3500→2500]
"I choose the effect of drawing one card from the top of my deck."
"Degeneration!"
[Ryo Marufuji's cue cards: 2→3]
Chapter 117 Cyber Load Fusion
After drawing his card, Ryo Marufuji pointed to the face-down card at his feet and said, "Next, open the face-down card and Quick-Play Spell [Cyber Fusion Support]!"
"Pay half your Life Points as a cost. When Fusion Summon Machine-Type monster this turn, you may banish monsters from your hand, field, or Graveyard as Polymerization Material."
[Ryo Marufuji: LP2500→1250]
"That way I can activate the Spell Card [Power Bond] and banish the three [Cyber Dragon] from my Graveyard..."
[Ryo Marufuji's hand cards: 3→2]
Ryo Marufuji waved his hand and shouted, "Fusion Summon, [Cyber End Dragon]!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a burst of light effects flashed across the field, and a three-headed mechanical dragon rose up from the ground behind him.
"Attack power increased due to the [Power Bond] effect!"
[Cyber End Dragon: Attack Power 4000 → 8000]
[Masked HERO Saber: Attack Power 5000 → 5500]
After finishing, he immediately launched an attack. "Battle begins! Cyber End Dragon attacks Light Fang! Eternal Evolution Burst!"
The three mechanical dragon heads of the Cyber End Dragon immediately gathered energy, looking ready to unleash it at any moment.
Seeing Judai, Jaden quickly pointed at Koga beside him and shouted, "Don't even think about it! By banishing Shining Flare Wingman from the graveyard as a price, Koga's special effect is activated. Cyber End Dragon's ATK decreases by the ATK of the banished Hero Monster."