"I activate the Trap Card, [Counter Gate]!" A portal appeared on Joey's empty Field, perfectly intercepting the [Harpie Lady 1] that was making a Direct Attack on Joey, and transferring it back to Mai Valentine's Field.
"When your Monster declares a Direct Attack, [Counter Gate] can Negate that Attack, and I Draw one more Card from the top of my Deck."
As Joey spoke, he Drew a Card from the top of his Deck. It was the invincible [Time Wizard]!
"Yosh! The Card I Drew is [Time Wizard]. If the Effect of [Counter Gate] causes me to Draw a Monster Card, I can Normal Summon it in Attack Position!"
"Come forth, [Time Wizard]!"
[Time Wizard], looking like a cloaked alarm clock, calmly emerged from the portal formed by [Counter Gate] and landed on Joey's Field. With an arrogant expression, it extended a finger and beckoned to the two [Harpie Lady] Monsters on Mai Valentine's Field, as if provoking them, "Come at me?"
[Time Wizard] [Level 2/LIGHT Attribute]
[Spellcaster-Type/Effect]
[ATK 500/DEF 400]
Although [Time Wizard] looked arrogant, making one want to rush up and punch it, unfortunately, all of Mai Valentine's Monsters had already attacked once. With no other choice, she could only end her Turn: "I Set one Card. My Turn, End."
Although she could use the [Monster Reborn] in her Hand to Revive the [Red-Eyes Black Dragon] that was just Destroyed in Joey's Graveyard, given that Joey would inevitably use [Time Wizard]'s Effect next Turn, blindly adding more Monsters to her Field would just be asking for trouble. It would be better to save [Monster Reborn] for a Counterattack on her own next Turn.
[Mai Valentine: 2500 LP, Hand 1]
[Harpie Lady 1] [ATK 1800]
[Harpie Lady Sisters] [ATK 2450]
[Alluring Mirror Split] [Set Card]
Field: [Harpie's Hunting Ground]
"It's my Turn again, Draw!" After Joey Drew a Card, he didn't play it, but instead held it in his Hand. He then commanded the [Time Wizard] on the Field, "I'm counting on you, [Time Wizard]! Whether we can turn this around depends on you!"
"I activate [Time Wizard]'s Effect! I'll flip a Coin and guess Heads or Tails. If I guess correctly, all Monsters on my Opponent's Field are Destroyed. If I guess incorrectly, all Monsters on my Field are Destroyed, and I take damage equal to half the combined ATK of the Destroyed Monsters."
"I guess, Heads!"
Similar to Mai Valentine's [Elegant Egotist], [Time Wizard]'s Effect had also been revised as one of the old-era Duel Monsters Cards.
In the past at Duelist Kingdom, Joey had used [Time Wizard] as a Spell Card more than once. Not only could it be Set in the Back Row, but when Summoned to the Field for use, it wouldn't even consume a Normal Summon. Its only drawback was that its Effect was no longer once per turn, but activated upon Summon, and regardless of success or failure, [Time Wizard] would be immediately Sent to the Graveyard after using its Effect.
It could be said that, apart from having ATK/DEF, Level, Attribute, and Type listed on it, the old [Time Wizard] Card was practically no different from a Spell Card.
[Time Wizard] raised its staff. Inside the alarm clock-shaped ornament at the top of the staff, the hands began to spin rapidly. Joey, Mai Valentine, and everyone in the Audience Seating fixed their gaze on the clock face. After a short while, the spinning speed gradually slowed.
If Joey guessed correctly, all of Mai Valentine's Monsters on the Field would be Destroyed in an instant. If Joey guessed incorrectly, his chances of winning would be further reduced.
The clock face was divided equally into six sections. Three sections had a clock drawn on them, while the other three sections had a skull drawn on them. The hands spun slower and slower, and in Joey's excited gaze, they finally stopped in a section with a clock.
"Yatta! It's Heads!" Joey completely ignored Mai Valentine's expression of "This guy's luck is as good as ever," and excitedly commanded [Time Wizard], "Go, [Time Wizard], use Time Magic! Time will now accelerate!"
As [Time Wizard] raised its staff, everything on the Field seemed as if a fast-forward button had been pressed. The splendid [Harpie Lady] Monsters withered and aged in a few breaths, their splendor gone. In a few more breaths, none were spared, all reduced to bleached bones.
In this rapidly flowing time, only [Time Wizard] on Joey's Field remained unperturbed, even somewhat arrogant: "No one can defy fate ordained by the heavens. Destruction awaits you. Only I can stand at the eternal peak, Chanting a lament in a world where time vanishes."
Unfortunately, [Time Wizard] didn't have long, pink, moldy hair flowing, nor did it put on a sexy fishnet costume, otherwise the resemblance would be even higher.
The acceleration of time gradually faded. Although the desert was still the same desert after experiencing the rapid rotation of days and nights, things had changed. The [Harpie Lady] Monsters that had previously soared on Mai Valentine's Field had all been Destroyed and Sent to the Graveyard, and not even their reflections remained in [Alluring Mirror Split].
"In that case, Mai Valentine, your Field is empty, right?" Joey said somewhat triumphantly. "Then, I won't be polite, I'll make a Direct Attack now."
Seeing Joey's expression at that moment, Mai Valentine frowned in displeasure and snorted coldly: "Hmph, do as you please. Although the Effect is quite powerful, don't forget that [Time Wizard]'s ATK is only a paltry 500. It won't even hurt."
At the same time, she thought to herself: *You idiot, Joey, is Dueling really that much fun?*
If Joey had heard her thoughts, he would probably have answered in a very straightforward, 'manly' way: *Sorry, but Dueling really is a lot of fun.*
"Indeed, [Time Wizard]'s ATK is only 500, but nothing is absolute." In [Time Wizard]'s expectant gaze, Joey played the Card from his Hand. "I activate the Equip Spell Card, [Book of Secret Arts], and Equip it to [Time Wizard]! This Card can increase [Time Wizard]'s ATK by 300 points!"
[Time Wizard] [ATK 500 → 800]
"Enter my Battle Phase! [Time Wizard], Direct Attack Mai!"
(end of chapter)