"Duel!" x2
[You Xuan, LP4000]
[Ryuga, LP4000]
"It seems I'm going first. Draw."
You Xuan drew a card, then immediately played one from his hand.
"I Summon 'Elemental HERO Bubbleman' in Defense Position!"
[Elemental HERO Bubbleman, DEF 1200]
Jaden Yuki from outside the field: "Huh? Is You Xuan using the same Elemental HEROes as me today?"
However, that wasn't actually the case. You Xuan only brought it because he craved the drawing power of Greed HERO. And Greed HERO happened to be Water Attribute as well, which could also serve as ammunition for "Abyss Soldier"'s bouncing effect when needed.
"When 'Elemental HERO Bubbleman' is Summoned successfully, if there are no other cards on my field, I draw two cards from my Deck." (Anime effect)
"Next, I activate the Spell Card 'Graceful Charity.' I draw three cards from my Deck, then discard two cards from my hand," You Xuan said. "Then I set two cards. My turn ends."
"Then it's my turn!"
Ryuga drew a card, narrowing his eyes as he assessed You Xuan's "Bubbleman" crouching in defense on the front field.
Elemental HEROes, huh. A very conventional deck. But even though he's a first-year student, Professor Chronos actually recommended him as an opponent. He must have some extraordinary abilities.
Ryuga: "I Summon 'Shell Dragon'!"
The black, magnificent Dimensional Phantom Dragon, despite being a four-star monster, had 2000 ATK. And as a low-level attacker with such high ATK and no drawbacks, it was also a rare and valuable card.
[Shell Dragon, ATK 2000]
"Let me see what you're planning!" Ryuga shouted. "Battle! 'Shell Dragon' attacks 'Elemental HERO Bubbleman'!"
You Xuan's back row immediately flipped: "Then I activate my Trap Card, Continuous Trap - Gravity Bind!
All monsters on the field with Level 4 or higher cannot declare an attack!"
A powerful gravity restriction was unleashed from the Trap Card, instantly suppressing the entire field. Before "Shell Dragon" could even move, it was crushed by the extraordinary gravity onto Ryuga's field, unable to budge an inch.
"Gravity Bind?" Ryuga frowned.
A stall tactic?
But Elemental HEROes combined with a stall... I've never seen that strategy.
"Then I set one card. My turn ends."
You Xuan: "My turn, draw."
At the same time, his Duel Disk's Graveyard zone flashed with a golden light, and a monster card automatically popped out.
"At this moment, the effect of 'Snake Whistle,' which I discarded to the Graveyard last turn, activates.
If this card is in the Graveyard, it can return to my hand during my Standby Phase."
He drew the "Snake Whistle" back into his hand.
"Next, I Normal Summon 'Abyss Soldier'!"
[Abyss Soldier, ATK 1800]
Seeing the Aqua-Type warrior emerge from a curtain of water, holding a trident, Ryuga couldn't help but frown slightly.
Not an Elemental HERO?
"The monster effect of 'Abyss Soldier': By discarding a Water Attribute monster card from my hand, I can target one card on the field and return it to its owner's hand."
You Xuan revealed the "Snake Whistle" he had just returned to his hand.
"I discard the Water Attribute 'Snake Whistle' to the Graveyard, and return 'Shell Dragon' to your hand."
Abyss Soldier swung its trident, and a vortex of water erupted from beneath its feet. "Shell Dragon" rode the current, turning back into a card and flying back into Ryuga's hand.
Ryuga: "!"
He immediately realized the terrifying combination: the infinitely recycling "Snake Whistle" could be used as a cost for "Abyss Soldier" every turn. This meant the bouncing effect was virtually cost-free.
"He actually came up with such a troublesome combo..."
Ryuga frowned and scoffed coldly.
"He's got a few tricks. But don't forget, both 'Bubbleman' and 'Abyss Soldier' are Level 4. With your own 'Gravity Bind' on the field, they can't attack."
He adjusted his glasses and sneered softly.
"What a pity, you cleared my field but can't attack. It seems 'Gravity Bind' is hindering you instead. Classmate You Xuan's strategy still needs improvement."
"Thank you for the guidance, Professor." You Xuan remained polite and courteous. "However, I also have a little idea of my own. I activate the Spell Card 'Planet Pathfinder' from my hand. This allows me to add one Field Spell Card from my Deck to my hand.
The Field Spell I'm adding from my Deck to my hand is this one..."
He revealed the spell card he had searched from his deck.
"Field Spell 'A Legendary Ocean'!"
An extra zone popped out from the side of his Duel Disk.
"Then I activate it directly!"
A three-dimensional projection of seawater immediately swept across the entire field. The entire field was as if submerged beneath the sea. The ancient lost city surrounded them, and dazzling sunlight pierced through the water's surface, leaving a long and splendid path of light within the water.
"While 'A Legendary Ocean' is in the Field Zone, all Water Attribute monsters in both players' hands and on the field have their Level reduced by 1!" You Xuan said. "And, the ATK of Water Attribute monsters increases by 200!"
[Elemental HERO Bubbleman, Level 4 → Level 3, ATK 800 → ATK 1000]
[Abyss Soldier, Level 4 → Level 3, ATK 1800 → ATK 2000]
Ryuga: "Nani!?"
The prospective teacher immediately realized the terrifying nature of this combo.
"A Legendary Ocean" could reduce the Level of Water Attribute monsters. "Abyss Soldier" and "Bubbleman" thus just barely dropped below the restriction line of Gravity Bind. Therefore, You Xuan's attack restriction was lifted, and it was only Ryuga who was sealed by the stall.
This was also one of the commonly used combos of Abyss Control back in the day. In fact, to some extent, it also showed the tactical style of this control deck. Like "Abyss Soldier" combined with "Royal Decree" to achieve one-sided trap suppression, and the combo of "Gravity Bind" and "A Legendary Ocean" forming one-sided attack suppression, all reflecting a control strategy focused on one-sided suppression.
In fact, there were many other small card synergies like this in this deck. Whether it was for attacks, summons, spells, or traps, it had suppression strategies. It belonged to that typical type of deck from the early environment that made opponents increasingly frustrated.
Not only that, "Abyss Soldier," which originally had 1800 ATK, was now strengthened to 2000. This meant that if Ryuga wanted to defeat this monster in battle, he would have to field a monster of Level 3 or lower with 2000 or more ATK.
Asuka Tenjoin on the stands mused for two seconds: "That's truly a tactic in his usual style."
"Indeed."
Syrus Truesdale, also a member of You Xuan's "victim association," appeared at some point, arms crossed, and nodded.
"Fujiki You Xuan... he's the kind of duelist who, if there are two options to win, will definitely prioritize the one that involves 'not letting the opponent duel' to achieve victory."
"Mm," Asuka agreed.
Ryuga: "..."
Ugh, my blood pressure is starting to subtly rise.
"'Elemental HERO Bubbleman' changes to Attack Position, then it's the Battle Phase." You Xuan said. "Direct attack by 'Abyss Soldier'!"
Abyss Soldier lunged forward, swinging its trident. A vortex of water swirled around the golden prongs, thrusting directly towards Ryuga's face.
"It's not that simple." Ryuga shouted. "Open Trap Card! Trap Card 'Hero Signal'! When your opponent declares an attack, randomly select one card from your hand.
If the selected card is a monster card, Special Summon it directly to my field. If not, send it to the Graveyard!"
This was also a card Jaden often used in the anime. Although the card name had the word "Hero" in it, it was actually unrelated to the Hero deck and was a versatile trap.
Ryuga had five cards in his hand.
You Xuan casually pointed: "Then the second card from the left."
"Hahahaha! Unfortunately, you picked exactly this card—"
Ryuga revealed the card he had picked.
"Level 6, 'Dark Blade the Dragon Knight'!!"
[Dark Blade the Dragon Knight, ATK 2400]
"As expected of a professor, attacks aren't that easily passed." You Xuan chuckled softly. "Then, if that's the case, I'll replay my battle, not attacking for now.
My Battle Phase ends. Entering Main Phase 2."
He drew another card from his hand.
"I set one more card. My turn ends."
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