Chapter 232: The Majestic (*Chimera Manticore*)
[Hayato: 4000 Life Points, Hand 5]
[Shoji: 4000 Life Points, Hand 5]
"The first turn is mine, Draw!" Thanks to the convenience of the Duel Disk, Hayato claimed the right to go first.
"I Summon (Ojama Red) in Defense Position, then I Activate (Ojama Red)'s Effect, Special Summoning (Ojama Blue) from my Hand."
The Duel Disk's virtual projection device activated. On Hayato's Field, the red and blue (Ojama) Monster duo appeared.
"Soaring High!" "Let's take a bath after this, okay?"
Seeing the (Ojama) Monsters appear, Chazz Princeton complained with considerable displeasure, "Hey, Hayato, why are you using these disgusting Monsters again! You have so many other Decks!"
To this day, he couldn't forget that Duel on the rooftop. He could accept losing to powerful Monsters, but to be finished off by (Ojama) Monsters attacking with their butts and the disgusting (*Goblin Thief*)—it was something he still couldn't get over.
"I just grabbed a random Deck. If you insist on a reason, it's probably something like, 'To deal with you, this Deck is quite suitable.'" Hayato replied casually, "Then, I Activate my Spell Card, (Ojama Mixer)'s Effect, by Sending (Ojama Red) from the Field to the Graveyard."
"Add one (Ojama) Monster with a different name and one (Armed Dragon) Monster from your Deck or Graveyard to your Hand. Afterwards, you can Summon one of them." Hayato took the two cards that automatically popped out of his Deck, then Summoned one of them. "Come forth, (Armed Dragon LV3)!"
Under the surprised gaze of (Ojama Blue), (Ojama Red)'s figure vanished from the Field, replaced by the adorable (Armed Dragon LV3).
"I Set three cards, End Turn."
With only one (Ojama Yellow) remaining in his Hand—which was added by (Ojama Mixer)'s Effect—and all other cards Set, Hayato ended his Turn.
[Hayato: 4000, Hand 1]
[(Ojama Blue) DEF 1000]
[(Armed Dragon LV3) ATK 1200]
[Set Card] X3
"So much flashiness, but I'm not the same as before! Let me show you what I've got, Hayato!" Shoji placed his hand on his Deck and drew a card. "My Turn, Draw!"
"Yosh! I drew a good card!"
Shoji confidently played the card from his Hand: "I Activate the Spell Card (*Polymerization*)! I'll use (Great Dragon) and (Lesser Fiend) from my Hand as Fusion Material! Come forth! Demonic Dragon!"
The (Lesser Fiend) with multiple arms and the Dragon-Type (Great Dragon) were Sent to the Vortex that appeared on Shoji's Field. A tall, humanoid Demonic Dragon with several claws on its abdomen appeared on Shoji's Field.
[Demonic Dragon] [Level 5/Wind]
[Dragon-Type/Fusion/Effect]
[ATK 2000/DEF 1200]
"Oh? You've got some tricks up your sleeve, huh? You actually Summoned a Monster like that on the First Turn." Hayato recognized Demonic Dragon because this card had two Abilities: "Negate the Effect of Flip Monsters" and "Negate and Destroy Traps that Target it," making it very suitable for dealing with annoying Stall Decks.
"Heh heh, my Turn isn't over yet, be amazed, Hayato. I'll enter Battle Phase!"
"Oh? You're not avoiding Battle and are coming closer? Even though my Back Row is like a minefield with three Set Cards, you're still approaching?"
"If I don't get closer, how can I beat you up?" Shoji laughed triumphantly, pointing his hand at (Ojama Blue) on Hayato's Field. "Demonic Dragon, get rid of that annoying Monster!"
A coppery-green Dragon's Breath spewed forth, enveloping (Ojama Blue). When Demonic Dragon closed its mouth, only a pile of charred bones remained where (Ojama Blue) had been.
ATK 2000 attacking DEF 1000, the Battle was one-sided, but because (Ojama Blue) was in Defense Position, Hayato took no Battle Damage.
"When (Ojama Blue) is Destroyed by Battle and Sent to the Graveyard, I Activate its Effect." Two cards popped out of Hayato's Deck Zone, which Hayato caught and Added to his Hand. "From my Deck, I will Add two cards with the (Ojama) Archetype to my Hand."
"Then, I Activate the Trap Card I Set last Turn."
"Muda muda muda! Any Trap Card that Targets Demonic Dragon is Negated!" Shoji said, laughing, but his voice betrayed a hint of nervousness.
He had the Quick-Play Spell (*Fusion Release*) in his Hand. He almost Chained it to (Ojama Blue)'s Effect just now, but thankfully he hesitated, otherwise, it would have been bad if Hayato had Activated a card like (Raigeki Break) to Destroy his Monsters after he used (*Fusion Release*).
"Heh heh, I never said my Set Card Targeted your Demonic Dragon. My card is this one, (Grave Robber). By paying 1000 Life Points, I can choose a card from your Graveyard and use it temporarily."
[Hayato: 4000 → 3000 Life Points]
"I choose (*Polymerization*) from your Graveyard, and because it's a Spell Card, I can use its Effect immediately." Hayato revealed all three cards in his Hand. The cards he just Added to his Hand due to (Ojama Blue)'s Effect were (Ojama Green) and (Ojama Black).
Adding the (Ojama Yellow) he got from (Ojama Mixer)'s Effect earlier, Hayato had gathered all three (Ojama) brothers!
Just like when Demonic Dragon appeared, a Vortex materialized on Hayato's Field, sucking in all three (Ojama) brothers. The bloated (*Ojama King*) descended onto the Field, dancing ballet, then casually tossed three seals onto Shoji's Field.
[(*Ojama King*) DEF 3000]
"A Field Lockdown Effect, and super high Defense that even a (*Blue-Eyes White Dragon*) would struggle to Destroy, this is Hayato's (*Ojama King*)!" Tristan, from the sidelines, seized the opportunity to mock Shoji. "You're not the only one who's gotten stronger, Mr. Chazz! Didn't you say you were going to beat Hayato up? Why aren't you attacking anymore?"
"Shut up, you bastard!" Even though they were no longer rivals in love, Chazz Princeton always easily lost his usual elegance and composure whenever he encountered Tristan. "My Attack isn't over yet! I Activate the Quick-Play Spell, (*Fusion Release*)!"
As if Time Reversal occurred, a reverse-spinning Vortex of (*Polymerization*) appeared before Demonic Dragon and swallowed it. The (Great Dragon) and (Lesser Fiend) that were Sent to the Graveyard as Fusion Material were Special Summoned to Shoji's Field.
However, because of this, (*Ojama King*) had locked down three Monster Zones, and with the two Monsters Special Summoned by (*Fusion Release*), Chazz Princeton's Monster Zones were completely full.
[(Great Dragon)] [Level 4/Wind]
[Dragon-Type/Effect]
[ATK 2000/DEF 100]
[(Lesser Fiend)] [Level 5/DARK Attribute]
[Fiend-Type/Effect]
[ATK 2100/DEF 1000]
"Although (Great Dragon) cannot Attack while there are no other Dragon-Type Monsters on my Field," looking at the (Great Dragon) lazily rolling on his Field, even exposing its belly due to no competition, Shoji strongly suppressed his anger, "(Lesser Fiend), Attack (Armed Dragon LV3)!"
An Energy Orb condensed from Dark Magic was kneaded out by (Lesser Fiend)'s four arms and smashed into (Armed Dragon LV3), which was in Attack Position on Hayato's Field, Destroying it.
[Hayato: 3000 → 2100 Life Points]
Hayato's Life Points decreased, but strangely, (Armed Dragon LV3), which was Destroyed by Battle by (Lesser Fiend), did not go to the Graveyard. Instead, its body gradually turned transparent in front of Hayato and was Banished from the Game.
"An Ability to Banish a Monster directly after Destroying it, so strong, truly so strong." Hayato said, flipping open a Set Card. "I can Activate the Effect of (Excavation of the Fate) when I take Battle Damage."
"I Draw one card from my Deck."
(Ojama Blue) and (Armed Dragon LV3), which remained on Hayato's Field from the previous Turn, were now both Destroyed. Only the bulky (*Ojama King*) with 3000 Defense remained, which Shoji had no way to deal with. He had no choice but to end his Battle Phase and proceed to his Main Phase 2.
"I Set one card, then I Release (Great Dragon) and (Lesser Fiend) on my Field as Tribute to perform a Tribute Summon." Shoji played out his last two cards. "Come forth, my Deck's Ace Monster, (*Chimera Manticore*)!"
The bodies of the two Monsters on Shoji's Field suddenly began to glow. Lightning burst forth from within them, wildly leaping outwards. After a flash of bright yellow Lightning, a huge, lion-like beast with a scorpion tail and bat wings appeared on Chazz Princeton's Field.
[(*Chimera Manticore*)] [Level 8/Earth]
[Beast-Type//Effect]
[ATK 2800/DEF 2500]
A Duel Monster based on the Manticore, a monster from ancient Persian mythology also known as the "man-eater," (*Chimera Manticore*) let out a majestic roar as soon as it appeared:
"Meow~"
Hayato felt like he must have misheard something just now.
Why did he hear a cat's meow? And it sounded like a kitten, soft and childish.
He turned to look at Yugi and the others, and their faces also showed confusion. Clearly, Hayato hadn't misheard; (*Chimera Manticore*) had indeed let out a cat's meow.
"Hmph, in Persian mythology, the Manticore lures lost travelers with its sweet voice, so—so there's nothing wrong with (*Chimera Manticore*) meowing like that!" Shoji explained, trying to maintain his composure, but everyone present, even his younger brother Chazz Princeton, could see he was just trying to keep up appearances.
"You guys are so annoying, what are you bothering about? It's not like I made this guy meow like that! Go complain to Pegasus and Seto Kaiba, those bastards!" Chazz Princeton, enraged and embarrassed, threw a small tantrum. "I End Turn, hurry up and start your Turn, Hayato!"
This guy's topic change was so stiff.
[Shoji: 4000 Life Points, Hand 0]
[(*Chimera Manticore*) ATK 2800]
[(Ojama King) Seal] X3
[Set Card]
(The start of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX is around 2010 (approximate, based on forum posts), DM's story is in the millennium, a 10-year difference.)
(Shoji appears in GX at 15, so he's 5 now, hmm.)
(end of chapter)