Chapter 302: I Activate the Bridge-Burning Strategy
Seeing the brilliant smile on Ishizu's face, Hayato's lips couldn't help but curl up. "Isn't that obvious? The so-called 'King's Duel is all about entertainment.' I want to bring smiles to everyone through my Duels."
'Although I haven't yet gathered all the pieces for victory, I still have enough Life Points remaining. In that case...'
"I change [Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion]'s battle position to Defense Position, then I Set one card. I end my turn." Hayato Set the card from his hand, and turned the [Gaia] on his field sideways. "Sorry, [Gaia], for the sake of a hope still far in the future, please rest for a bit."
[Hayato: 3500 LP, Hand: 0]
[Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion] ATK 600 → DEF 300
[Set Card]
Ishizu: "My turn, draw!"
"Are you trying to survive this turn with [Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion] in Defense Position, after its stats were lowered, and then look for a new winning opportunity? In that case, I just need to Summon more monsters."
Saying that, Ishizu played the card she had just drawn. "I activate the Spell Card [Gravekeeper's Stone Tablet]! From my Graveyard, I add two 'Gravekeeper' monsters to my hand."
From the Spectator Stands, Joey looked helplessly at the card Ishizu activated. "And this card still isn't affected by the effect of [Necrovalley], right? Just like Hayato said, 'Gravekeeper' decks are totally hypocritical decks, they're just like women—"
Mid-sentence, Joey suddenly felt a shiver down his spine, as if something dangerous was staring at him. He looked around. Yugi, Kaiba, and Marik were all intently watching the duel on the field. Mokuba was in charge of the live broadcast.
Only Mai Valentine, with a smile that looked strange no matter how you saw it, was staring at him. "Huh? Joey, why aren't you finishing your sentence? What exactly are 'Gravekeeper' decks so hypocritical like?"
"N-nothing!" Joey nervously turned his head straight and looked intently towards the field. As Ishizu activated the Spell Card [Gravekeeper's Stone Tablet], a massive stone tablet rose from underground. From the stone tablet, etched with mysterious glyphs, two phantoms flew out and landed in Ishizu's hand.
"[Gravekeeper's Priestess], and [Gravekeeper's Summoner]?"
Hayato recognized the monsters Ishizu added to her hand: [Gravekeeper's Priestess], which was Tributed earlier to Summon [Gravekeeper's Oracle] and has the effect to Special Summon 'Gravekeeper' monsters from the Graveyard, and [Gravekeeper's Summoner], which was sent to the Graveyard earlier due to [Painful Choice].
"First, I Normal Summon [Gravekeeper's Priestess] from my hand, and then activate her effect because of her Summon." Playing a card from her hand, Ishizu smiled slightly. "I don't need to explain her effect a second time, do I?"
"Special Summon one Level 4 or lower 'Gravekeeper' monster from the Graveyard." Hayato stated [Gravekeeper's Priestess]'s effect, speaking for Ishizu.
"Ah, no peace and quiet after all. Ishizu, you really know how to order people around." [Gravekeeper's Priestess], who had been Normal Summoned from the hand to the field, grumbled as it raised its scepter and casually drew a magic circle. From Ishizu's Graveyard, [Gravekeeper's Descendant] was Special Summoned to the field.
[Gravekeeper's Priestess] ATK 500 → 1000
[Gravekeeper's Descendant] ATK 1500 → 2000
As soon as [Gravekeeper's Descendant], with its golden hair and arrogant expression, appeared on the field, it voiced its displeasure. "Huh? Why did I have to stay in the Graveyard for so long? It's been absolutely boring from start to finish!"
"That's why young people don't understand how wonderful it is to get some rest." [Gravekeeper's Priestess] and [Gravekeeper's Descendant] held opposing views. In its opinion, staying in the Graveyard was much better; always being on the field was simply a hassle.
"Heh, old fossil, you should just lie in your coffin forever."
"Stinky brat." "Arrogant old geezer."
Before Ishizu's Battle Phase even began, the conflict between [Gravekeeper's Descendant] and [Gravekeeper's Priestess] was so intense it looked like they would fight any second. Seeing the chaotic field, [Gravekeeper's Oracle], with a stern face, tapped its scepter on the ground. "Quiet down, both of you!"
[Gravekeeper's Oracle], being the oldest and highest-ranking, spoke up, and [Gravekeeper's Priestess] and [Gravekeeper's Descendant], who couldn't stand each other, had no choice but to obediently shut up.
As for [Gravekeeper's Psychic]? Motionless due to [Rainbow Kuriboh]'s effect, it merely watched from the side.
At the same time, Ishizu played another card from her hand. "Although I've already used my Normal Summon for this turn, I activate the effect of [Throne of Necrovalley], which was added to my hand last turn, to Summon one 'Gravekeeper' monster from my hand!"
"Come forth, [Gravekeeper's Summoner]!"
Following [Gravekeeper's Psychic], [Gravekeeper's Oracle], [Gravekeeper's Priestess], and [Gravekeeper's Descendant], a fifth 'Gravekeeper' monster appeared on Ishizu's field.
[Gravekeeper's Summoner] ATK 1200 → 1700
"This way, the combined Attack Power of the monsters on my field is enough to destroy [Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion] and then clear your field, Hayato. However, I am quite curious about that card you Set."
Ishizu said, counting on her fingers, "[Absorption Shield], [Mirror Force], [Sakuretsu Armor], or some other type of card? No matter what kind of card it is, once it's destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, it won't be able to activate its effect, will it?"
Hayato's gaze couldn't help but fall upon [Gravekeeper's Descendant] on Ishizu's field.
When Ishizu used [Painful Choice] earlier, the five monsters she sent to the Graveyard had all been shown to him. If he remembered correctly, [Gravekeeper's Descendant]'s effect seemed to be: after Tributing one 'Gravekeeper' monster, destroy one card on the field?
"That's right! I activate [Gravekeeper's Descendant]'s effect! I Tribute [Gravekeeper's Priestess] on my field, then target and destroy one card on the opponent's field!"
[Gravekeeper's Priestess] was also startled. "Nani?!"
It abruptly turned its head to look at [Gravekeeper's Descendant], who was standing beside it with a malevolent look. "You! Why are you looking at me with such ill intent?!"
"Heh heh, blame yourself for having the lowest Attack Power then." [Gravekeeper's Descendant] sneered, raising the long staff in its hand. Seeing this, [Gravekeeper's Priestess] tried to protest, "Wait, hold on! Don't forget, I was the one who Special Summoned you earlier! How about I treat you to a meal?"
[Gravekeeper's Descendant] laughed with great pleasure. "But I refuse!"
The long staff crashed down, physically smashing [Gravekeeper's Priestess] into the Graveyard. An ominous crimson energy gathered at the tip of [Gravekeeper's Descendant]'s long staff.
"The card I intend to destroy is that Set card in your back row! Compared to [Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion]'s currently weak Defense Power, that Set card poses a greater threat!" Ishizu said with a smile. "What's more, [Gravekeeper's Descendant]'s effect does not have a Once per Turn restriction. After destroying the Set card, it will be [Gaia]'s turn!"
The crimson energy surged towards Hayato's Set card in the back row. Just as Ishizu watched with anticipation, Hayato proactively activated his Set card. "Is this luck, or is it fate, Ishizu? The card I Set is perfectly suited to deal with this situation!"
"Quick-Play Spell Card, [Book of Eclipse]!"
"What?!" Ishizu was surprised to find that the card Hayato activated was none other than [Book of Eclipse], which she herself had used in a previous duel!
Unlike Staple cards such as [Monster Reborn] or [Pot of Greed], [Book of Eclipse] is not a commonly played card. For both Duelists in the same duel to use the same card sequentially, it was no wonder Hayato would exclaim whether it was coincidence or fate.
However, Ishizu had no leisure to marvel at the wonders of fate right now.
"I don't need to explain [Book of Eclipse]'s effect again, do I? After this card activates, all face-up monsters on the field will be changed to face-down Defense Position."
As Hayato's words fell, the crimson energy shattered [Book of Eclipse] on Hayato's field. However, before its destruction, six pages flew out from [Book of Eclipse], each landing on Ishizu's five monsters on the field, flipping them face-down.
Along with them, [Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion], which was in Defense Position on Hayato's field, was also flipped face-down.
Consequently, [Rainbow Kuriboh], which was equipped to [Gravekeeper's Psychic], was destroyed and returned to Hayato's Graveyard because the equipped monster was changed to face-down Defense Position.
"The monsters were flipped face-down... But Hayato, I'm not at my limit yet." Ishizu said. "Although [Gravekeeper's Descendant] and [Gravekeeper's Summoner], having been Summoned this turn, cannot change battle position, [Gravekeeper's Oracle] and [Gravekeeper's Psychic] are not subject to this restriction!"
"I Flip Summon two monsters, then I'll attack your [Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion] on the field with [Gravekeeper's Psychic]!"
A torrent of magical energy manifested on the field. Although [Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion], having been flipped face-down, was thus freed from the effect of [Gravekeeper's Oracle], its 2300 Defense Power ultimately fell short against [Gravekeeper's Psychic]'s 2500 Attack Power, which had received a field boost, and it was destroyed and sent to the Graveyard.
With the disappearance of [Rainbow Kuriboh], [Gravekeeper's Psychic] regained its ability to attack, and with one strike, it annihilated [Sky Galloping Gaia the Dragon Champion], proving its might.
"And now, Hayato, there are no monsters on your field, are there?" Ishizu commanded. "Direct attack the opponent duelist, [Gravekeeper's Oracle]!"
Invisible waves of magical energy flew from [Gravekeeper's Oracle]'s hand, striking Hayato's body.
[Hayato: 3000 → 500 LP]
(end of chapter)