"My Turn, Draw!" Hayato drew a card, looked at it, and then Set it on the Field. "I Set one card, and my Turn ends."
[Hayato: 2100 LP, Hand 1]
(Ojama King) [DEF 3000]
[Set Card] x2
"Hmm? You're actually ending your Turn that simply?" Shoji said, a bit surprised. Hayato had performed a lot of actions during his previous Turn, Searching, Gaining Control of cards, and Special Summoning monsters. But now, on his own Turn, he was ending it so simply?
"Then it's My Turn, Draw!" Chazz Princeton drew a card, then pointed towards his (Chimera Manticore) on the Field. "I Activate (Chimera Manticore)'s Effect! During the Standby Phase of my next Turn after it was Tribute Summoned, I can Summon the monster(s) Tributed for its Tribute Summon back to my Field!"
Hayato reminded him, "Don't forget, because of (Ojama King)'s Effect, you only have one Monster Zone still usable. You can only Summon one Monster."
"That's not necessarily true. If there are no zones available, why not just make some space?" Chazz Princeton said with a smug smile, then Activated his Set Card. "I Chain to (Chimera Manticore)'s Effect, I Activate my Trap Card! (Ballista Squad)!"
"By Tributing one Monster on my Field, I can Target one Card on your Field and Destroy it!"
A massive catapult appeared in Chazz Princeton's Back Row. (Chimera Manticore) obediently hopped into the tray used for placing large stones. The arm swung violently, launching (Chimera Manticore) high into the air like Kars, sending it crashing down towards (Ojama King)'s position.
"To use your own monster for a suicidal attack, that's just heartless! Doesn't your conscience hurt?" Seeing the descending (Chimera Manticore), Hayato also Activated his Set Card in his Back Row. "Quick-Play Spell Card, (Mysterious Chinese Pot) Activate!"
"I Tribute (Ojama King), which was about to be Attacked, and then I choose to Gain Life Points equal to its Defense. Rather than letting you destroy it, I'd rather stir-fry it and eat it."
"You're in no position to talk!"
Amidst Chazz Princeton's retort, a giant wok appeared beneath (Ojama King). A fierce blaze erupted, stir-frying it into a surprisingly appealing dish that replenished Hayato's Life Points. Meanwhile, (Chimera Manticore), launched by the catapult, crashed headfirst into the ground and was destroyed.
It was just strange that despite being (Ballista Squad), it used a catapult to launch monsters.
[Hayato: 2100 → 5100 LP]
Seeing Hayato's Life Points recover to 5100, even higher than at the start of the Duel, Chazz Princeton wasn't bothered. "Only 5100 Life Points. Watch me clear them out quickly."
"Since both (Chimera Manticore) and (Ojama King) have left the Field, all my Monster Zones are freed up! Come forth, (Lower Fiend) and (Great Dragon)!"
The two monsters Tributed earlier to Summon (Chimera Manticore) returned to Chazz Princeton's Field. However, their state was different from when they were Summoned via (De-Fusion) earlier; the bodies of these two Revived monsters were noticeably stiff.
"While (Chimera Manticore) has the effect to Revive the monsters used for its Tribute, I recall that monsters Summoned this way cannot Attack, and their effects are also Negated, correct?"
Hayato stated (Chimera Manticore)'s effect. Chazz Princeton merely sneered. "I never intended to use these two monsters to Attack you anyway."
"I Tribute (Lower Fiend) and (Great Dragon), and from my Hand, I Summon this powerful monster!"
The bodies of the two monsters gradually cracked, revealing their souls which floated upwards, converging in mid-air, then slowly transforming into a massive, two-colored monster.
From its head to its waist, a dividing line split its body's colors. The left half was covered in a slightly pale, sickly green fur, reminiscent of (Great Dragon), while the right half displayed a bright yellow, corresponding to the color of (Lower Fiend).
"Absorbing the power of two monsters, this is the creature that is born: (Maju Garzett)! Its Attack will become the combined Attack of the two monsters Tributed for its Tribute Summon!"
Hayato calculated the final result, a little startled. "(Lower Fiend) with 2100 ATK plus (Great Dragon) with 2000 ATK, this guy's Attack is actually higher than Black Luster Soldier's 4000 ATK?"
"Tributing two monsters that couldn't battle to Summon an even stronger presence..." Yugi watched the Field with some concern. "If Hayato takes a Direct Attack, his Life Points will be in serious danger!"
"Battle Phase! I use (Maju Garzett) to perform a Direct Attack on you! Taste this blow, Hayato!" Shoji shouted excitedly, and (Maju Garzett) responded to his command, swinging its massive claw at Hayato!
At this moment, Hayato remained calm and collected, as if the person about to be struck by the giant claw wasn't him at all. "That's an impressive Duel, Chazz. It seems I can't hold back my true abilities anymore."
"Go, my Ace Monster, my invincible Soul—"
"(Kuriboh)! Save me!!!"
A rainbow band of light extended from the card Hayato played, precisely blocking in front of him, nullifying (Maju Garzett)'s 4100 ATK, which was even stronger than a God of Destruction. It merely caused a slight ripple in the seven-colored rainbow band of light.
Riding the band of light, (Rainbow Kuriboh) floated and spun before Hayato, then flew towards (Maju Garzett), which was bewildered by its Attack being negated, and used its rainbow to completely entangle it, rendering it immobile.
"This monster? Damn it!" Shoji recognized (Rainbow Kuriboh). Although this was the first time Hayato had used this monster in a Duel against him, he had gathered information on Hayato's performance in Duelist Kingdom, so he naturally knew about this frequently appearing (Rainbow Kuriboh).
Aside from that, this card had appeared in Hayato's Duels against the former Japanese national Champion "Insect" Weevil and "the Father of Duel Monsters" Pegasus. That alone made it worth Chazz Princeton's attention.
"When your monster declares an Attack, (Rainbow Kuriboh) from my Hand will automatically pop out to help me with my stall strategy, then it'll use its exquisite skills to play 'tie-up' with your monster." Hayato whistled. "What a pity, Shoji, I'm afraid I won't get to taste the power of your monster's attack."
"Stop being so sarcastic! My Turn Ends!" With his monster unable to Attack, and an empty Hand and no Set Cards, Chazz Princeton had nothing left to do but end his Turn.
[Shoji: 4000 LP, Hand 0]
(Maju Garzett) (Rainbow Kuriboh) [ATK 4100]
(end of chapter)