Jaden's reaction left many of the spectators stunned.
Among the crowd, plenty of students had suffered under the MC's notorious reputation as "The King in Yellow." Some watched with sympathy for Jaden, while others gleefully anticipated the "entertainment" of seeing him crushed.
But what no one expected was that the jellyfish-headed boy, faced with such a ruthless and aggravating move, would actually look... excited?
Had some latent masochistic streak finally awakened?
"Well, it is a bit surprising, but then again, it's just so Jaden," Alexis Rhodes remarked to herself from high up in the stands.
"Indeed."
Zane Truesdale appeared behind her, arms folded as he spoke. "That is precisely what makes him so special. He possesses a passion for dueling that no one else can match."
"..."
"With Fusion being banned, my Fusion Spells have basically become dead weight," Jaden said, scratching his head with a grin as he looked at the Continuous Trap on Youxuan's backrow. "Aw man, Youxuan, you're really giving me a headache here."
Youxuan chuckled. "Alright, since your specialty has been sealed away, what's your next move, Jaden?"
"Heh, who knows? I'll just have to play it by ear," Jaden laughed. "But if you think my HEROes are only good for Fusions, you're dead wrong! I summon Elemental HERO Wildheart!"
[Elemental HERO Wildheart, ATK 1500]
"Next, I equip Wildheart with his exclusive Equip SpellCyclone Boomerang!" Jaden announced. "The equipped monster gains 500 Attack!"
[Elemental HERO Wildheart, ATK 1500 → 2000]
"Even without Fusion, the combination of HEROes and Spells can rival high-level monsters," Jaden declared, pumping a fist. "Furthermore, Wildheart is unaffected by any Trap effects, making him the perfect HERO for this duel. Go, Wildheart! Strike down Lancer Archfiend!"
The wild Elemental HERO let out a savage roar and hurled the boomerang from his hand. Trailing a whirlwind, the weapon sliced through the lancer, causing the archfiend to instantly explode.
[Youxuan, LP 4000 → 3600]
"Great, I've pulled a bit ahead," Jaden said. "I'll end my turn there."
"Then it's my turn. Draw," Youxuan said calmly. "During the Standby Phase, I activate the effect of Take Over 5 from my Graveyard. By banishing this card and another copy from my Deck, I draw one card."
After drawing, he immediately played the card.
"Spell card, Pot of Greed! I draw two more cards."
Following the draw, a golden light flickered in his Graveyard as two cards slid out of his deck slot.
"Next, I banish the Dark-attribute Lancer Archfiend that you just sent to the Graveyard, along with the Light-attribute Magician of Faith! Souls of Light and Dark, guide the magic of chaos! Let the Sorcerer of Darkness descendChaos Sorcerer, summoned!"
The souls of Light and Dark transformed into two beams of light, spiraling upward and vanishing into a vortex in the sky. Violent chaotic energy erupted as a pillar of pitch-black and brilliant light descended, revealing a sorcerer wielding the powers of both elements.
[Chaos Sorcerer, ATK 2300]
"Ohhh! There it is! Youxuan's chaos power!" Jaden grew even more excited. "Looks like I finally get to face one of the legendary monsters today!"
Youxuan pointed forward. "Chaos Sorcerer, attack Elemental HERO Wildheart!"
Chaos Sorcerer crossed his palms, brewing a storm of dual-colored magic before blasting it outward. Wildheart's body was instantly engulfed and pulverized by the shockwave.
[Jaden, LP 3600 → 3300]
Jaden raised an arm to shield himself from the impact, shouting through the gale, "You walked right into it, Youxuan! Elemental HERO Wildheart's Cyclone Boomerang has another effect! When this card is sent from the field to the Graveyard, all Spell and Trap cards on the field are destroyed, and the opponent takes 500 damage for each card destroyed!"
(Anime effect: The real-life version of this card was nerfed significantly, requiring the monster to be destroyed by an effect to trigger, and reducing the damage to a measly 100 per card.)
"I see!" Bastion Misawa's eyes lit up from the sidelines. "Wildheart was just the bait. His real target was the Non-Fusion Area!"
Chumley Huffington added, "This way, Jaden's Fusion restriction is lifted. Next turn, he'll be able to launch a massive counterattack with the Fusions he's best at."
However, Youxuan immediately flipped another set card. "In that case, I activate my face-down Counter TrapJudgment of Anubis! By discarding one card from my hand, I negate the activation of a Spell effect that would destroy Spell or Trap cards on the field, and destroy it!"
A black mist surged, manifesting into the dark image of the god Anubis. As the Cyclone Boomerang flew back, it was swallowed by the mist and ground into dust.
"Ah," Jaden blinked. "Not even the boomerang worked?"
"Furthermore," Youxuan continued with a light chuckle, "after Judgment of Anubis resolves, it can destroy one monster on the opponent's field and inflict damage equal to that monster's Attack to the opponent."
Youxuan paused, smiling. "But since Jaden's Wildheart was already destroyed in battle, he has no monsters on his field. That effect cannot trigger. What a shame."
The black mist dissipated along with the image of Anubis. The battle concluded, and Non-Fusion Area remained firmly on the field.
"Heh, I guess breaking through Youxuan's formation isn't going to be that easy," Jaden laughed. "Looks like I'll have to think outside the box."
"I set one monster face-down and set two cards in my backrow," Youxuan said. "Turn end."
"Then it's my turn again! Draw!" Jaden shouted. "I activate Pot of Greed! I draw two cards from my Deck!"
With his drawing speed accelerated once again, Jaden scanned his hand. A new strategy seemed to materialize in his mind instantly.
"I summon Elemental HERO Clayman in Attack Position!"
[Elemental HERO Clayman, ATK 800]
Syrus Truesdale stared in disbelief. "Clayman in Attack Position? Who is he trying to fight with that?"
"Next, I activate the Equip Spell, Clay Wrap!" Jaden continued. "This is a specialized spell that can only be equipped to Elemental HERO Clayman!" (Anime-only card)
A transparent, protective film wrapped around Clayman's body like a reinforced shell, though his stats remained unchanged.
"Then, I activate the Spell card, White Elephant's Gift! By sending a face-up non-Effect monster I control to the Graveyard, I draw two cards! I send Elemental HERO Clayman to the Graveyard and draw two!"
Clayman and his protective shell vanished into particles of light as Jaden drew his cards.
"Eh?" Syrus looked even more confused. "Doesn't that mean he wasted an Equip Spell for nothing?"
"You're Jaden's understudy, yet you don't understand his deck at all, do you?" Bastion looked at him with a strange expression.
Syrus: "..."
Sure enough, Jaden explained with a grin. "When Clay Wrap is sent from the field to the Graveyard, I can choose any Spell or Trap card on the opponent's field and send it to the Graveyard!"
"I get it now!" Syrus exclaimed in realization.
Bastion squinted at him, his look clearly saying, Man, you really are a scrub...
"Therefore, by the effect of Clay Wrap, Non-Fusion Area is sent to the Graveyard!"
A phantom image of Clayman appeared, his bulky arms making a lifting gesture. A vortex manifested on Youxuan's backrow, dragging the Trap card into its depths until it vanished without a trace.
"Yes!"
Jaden clenched his fist, a fire burning in his eyes.
The Fusion lockdown has been broken!
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