A reverse lock!
In the blink of an eye, the situation had completely flipped. The Spell Canceller and Jinzo, which had just been forming a lockdown on Yue Xuan's field, were now under Alister's control. Although he didn't have Angel O7, Alister still had Brain Crusher on the field, which could negate the effects of all Light-attribute monsters.
"Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning is Light-attribute, and Silent Magician is also Light-attribute... Moreover, if it's a Chaos-themed deck, at least half the monsters must be Light-attribute."
Mokuba began to look a little worried for Yue Xuan.
"If that's the case, then isn't he"
"Hmph," Kaiba remained as calm as ever. "Just watch."
As he spoke, his gaze shifted from Alister to Yue Xuan.
You shouldn't be the kind of duelist who is left helpless by this level of pressure, right?
"So this is a case of 'giving me a taste of my own medicine.' As expected of a legendary duelist, truly impressive," Yue Xuan chuckled softly. "This really is a bit of a headache."
"Is it?" Alister smiled. "I don't see you looking particularly troubled."
"I really am finding this tricky," Yue Xuan laughed. "My turn, draw!"
Yue Xuan drew his card and quickly scanned his hand, appearing to think through his counter-strategy.
"Spells and Traps are sealed, and Light-attribute effects are negated... Truly a difficult knot to untie. Well... I suppose I have no choice but to use 'that move.'"
"Hmm?" Alister frowned.
What was with this sudden "you've forced my hand" aura?
"Here I come!" Yue Xuan pulled a card from his hand. "I Tribute the Spell Canceller and Brain Crusher on your field to Special Summon this powerful monster to your side!
Awaken from the abyss of magma, the power of destruction and rebirth
Level eight, Lava Golem!"
Alister's eyelid twitched.
Tributing my monsters...
Molten lava churned and surged as Spell Canceller and Brain Crusher vanished simultaneously. A massive palm reached out from the roiling magma, followed by a gargantuan, burning body. The monster appeared on Alister's field like a small, flaming mountain.
[Lava Golem, ATK 3000]
Mokuba, who had been worried just a second ago, could only gape in surprise.
Oh...
Double seal on Spells and Traps? Effects negated?
None of it mattered. Just Tribute them and be done with it.
Alister, currently locked inside the cage effect of the Golem, looked up at the massive, lumbering oaf on his field. His face twitched, but he quickly forced a smile.
"Haha... Hahaha, that certainly is an interesting way to clear the board."
As expected of a legendary duelist, his mental state was rock solid.
"It's true that the Spell and Trap lockdown has been broken in one go," Alister said. "But in exchange, I've gained a powerful monster with stats equal to the Blue-Eyes White Dragon. That's a huge risk for you."
Indeed, Lava Golem had 3000 ATK and 2500 DEF, the exact same stats as the White Dragon. Calling it a Blue-Eyes level threat was quite apt.
Yue Xuan smiled. "He is my soul, my ace. If I need him, he will naturally return to my side."
Saying that, he beckoned with his hand.
"Alright, come back now that you've had your fill."
Lava Golem let out a low, muffled grunt before taking massive strides, crossing the field and returning to Yue Xuan's side.
Alister: "???"
Wait, are you just making this up as you go? Can you even do that?
He ate my monsters clean and then just walked away? Was my field just a buffet to you?
To his utter astonishment, Alister then saw Jinzo follow suit, quietly tagging along behind Lava Golem and switching back to the opposite side.
"See that? This is the bond between me and my monsters." Yue Xuan stood tall, head held high. "The original King of Games once said that the power of bonds can bring forth miracles in a duel."
Alister fell silent. This sounded suspiciously like a bunch of nonsense wrapped in a high-sounding explanation.
However, he soon noticed the image of a card Yue Xuan had quietly inserted into his back row.
The Spell cardOwner's Seal.
Return control of all monsters on the field to their original owners.
"I see," Alister realized. "Lava Golem and Jinzo's original owner was you, so control returns to your side."
With Lava Golem's return, the cage trapping Alister vanished. He looked across the field and noticed that even though the Lava Golem was back on Yue Xuan's side, Yue Xuan wasn't trapped in a cage like he had been.
This lumbering giant is actually quite smart. Its only purpose is to put the opponent in prison, is that it?
"Amazing!" Mokuba admired sincerely. "He dismantled Alister's powerful lockdown formation in an instant, and now Alister only has one monster left. If he launches an all-out attack, Yue Xuan wins this turn! It's a complete turnaround, brother! This is brilliant!"
"Hmph, not bad," Kaiba said, though a small smile of approval graced his lips.
"Battle!" Yue Xuan declared. "First, Lava Golem attacks Gigantes!"
Lava Golem slammed a fist down, and Gigantes was instantly pulverized under the flaming impact.
[Alister, LP 3300 → LP 2200]
When Gigantes is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, all Spell and Trap cards on the field are destroyed. However, both players' back rows were currently empty, so it made no difference.
"Jinzo, a direct attack!"
Jinzo crossed his palms, gathering psychic energy into an orb that fired off like an electrified shockwave.
"Yue Xuan wins!" Mokuba cheered.
"Not yet." Alister smiled. "I'm not that easy to deal with. I activate the effect of Vajra in my hand! During either player's battle step, this card can be Special Summoned from the hand, and I gain 1000 Life Points!"
He revealed the card.
"Special Summon, Vajra!"
[Vajra, DEF 1300]
[Alister, LP 2200 → LP 3200]
The psychic impact shattered the Vajra into fragments, but not before it had restored Alister's health. As a result, Yue Xuan's potentially lethal combo had only dealt 100 points of negligible damage.
"What a shame, you were so close," Alister laughed.
"Indeed... In that case, the Battle Phase ends," Yue Xuan said. "I activate the Spell card, Advance Draw! By Tributing a monster of Level eight or higher, I draw two cards. I Tribute Lava Golem to draw two cards."
Lava Golem's massive form dissolved into flames as Yue Xuan drew from his deck.
Alister watched with narrowed eyes.
Who was the one talking about aces and souls just now?
Is this how you treat your soul?
After drawing, Yue Xuan revealed another card from his hand. "I activate the Equip Spell, Amplifier, and equip it to Jinzo. Now, my own Trap cards will not be affected by Jinzo's trap-negation effect."
Alister frowned. "So only I am forbidden from using Traps?"
"It would seem so."
Yue Xuan smiled and pulled a few more cards from his hand.
"Next, I Set three cards. Turn end."
🚨 Note: Consider supporting this story on Patreon.com/Flokixy to access 400+ advance chapters and 2 new chapters daily! (Full story bundles also available without a subscription).