It was now Crowler's turn.
He eyed the two face-down cards Obaro had set.
Although it might sound arrogant, as a world-renowned Duelist, the characteristics of his Ancient Gear deck were common knowledge among faculty—especially to someone from the Fusion Army.
And yet, his opponent had set two cards under these conditions—
"My turn."
Crowler reached forward, his massive Duel Disk hanging downward like a guillotine. As he moved, his Deck automatically ejected a card into his hand.
"Hmph~ Not bad. I activate the Field Spell, Geartown."
With the whirring and clanking of gears, countless cogs rose from the ground. A lavish and imposing mechanical fortress overran the Duel Field.
Obaro glanced around.
Of course, he recognized the card.
While it's on the field, the Tribute required to Summon Ancient Gear monsters is reduced by one.
More importantly, if it's destroyed, it can Special Summon an Ancient Gear monster directly from the Deck.
A very powerful and dangerous card.
Still, as long as it isn't destroyed, it's manageable, right? Reducing one Tribute isn't the end of the world.
But Crowler's next card took him by surprise.
"When you control no monsters, you can target one face-up card on your field to activate this!"
"Ancient Gear Catapult!" Crowler slid a Spell Card into his Duel Disk.
With a grinding of gears, several mechanical soldiers wheeled out a massive war machine—one that bore a strong resemblance to Crowler himself.
"Destroy that card and Special Summon 1 'Ancient Gear' monster from the Deck, ignoring its Summoning conditions!"
What!?
Obaro's eyes widened.
Everyone knew Ancient Gear Golem, with ATK and DEF rivaling Blue-Eyes White Dragon, came with limitations—it can't be Special Summoned.
However…
This card bypasses Summoning restrictions!
"I destroy Geartown on the field and Special Summon—
Ancient Gear Golem!"
The catapult locked onto the Castle. With a thundering blast, it obliterated the gears into dust.
At the same time, a towering automaton launched from afar, landing thunderously on the Duel Field.
[Ancient Gear Golem] Level 8│EARTH│Machine│3000 ATK
"Ancient Gear Golem, summoned that easily—"
"I'm not done yet." Crowler raised a finger with a foolish grin but a solemn tone. "When Geartown is destroyed, I can Special Summon 1 'Ancient Gear' monster from my hand, Deck, or Graveyard."
"Ugh." Obaro's face darkened.
"I Special Summon from the Deck—Ancient Gear Gadjiltron Dragon!"
From the rubble of the Castle, crimson eyes gleamed. Amidst the wreckage, corroded bronze wings burst open and soared into the sky.
[Ancient Gear Gadjiltron Dragon] Level 8│EARTH│Machine│3000 ATK
"Two ace monsters summoned in an instant—heh, Professor Crowler really lives up to the hype." Obaro looked serious now.
"Hmph. Battle Phase!" Crowler wasn't about to waste any time.
"Wait!" Obaro immediately flipped his card. "Before that, I activate my Trap Card—Darklord Rebellion!"
"Its activation condition: Send 1 'Darklord' monster from my hand or face-up field to the Graveyard. I send Darklord Superbia from my field to the Graveyard to activate its effect!
Target 1 Effect Monster on the field—negate its effects until the end of the turn, then I gain Life Points equal to its ATK!"
"I choose Ancient Gear Golem!"
Holy light poured down from the sky, bathing the Golem. Its gleam faded.
[Obaro, LP: 4000 → 7000]
Crowler looked at the now-muted Golem beside him, stunned.
"We're not done yet, Professor Crowler!" Obaro raised his hand, black energy swirling around it. "I activate Darklord Ixchel's effect! I pay 1000 LP, then target 1 'Darklord' Spell or Trap in my Graveyard, apply its effect, then return it to the Deck. This effect can be used during either player's turn!
I return Darklord Rebellion to the Deck—negate Ancient Gear Gadjiltron Dragon!"
[Obaro, LP: 7000 → 6000 → 9000]
Now, both of Crowler's Special Summoned monsters had become fodder for Obaro's recovery.
"Then... Battle. Ancient Gear Gadjiltron Dragon attacks." Crowler watched his opponent's moves in silence, then declared an attack.
"Ha! Professor Crowler, your monster has no effects now—which means I can activate Spell and Trap Cards during the attack!"
"I'll still attack!" Crowler swung his hand. "Ancient Gear Gadjiltron Dragon, advance!"
"Then take some pain! Trap Card—Magic Cylinder!
When an opponent's monster declares an attack, negate that attack and inflict damage equal to its ATK!"
"Go turn on your master, Mechanical Dragon!"
"G-Grrrk—" Though the Dragon didn't want to attack its own master, it launched a barrage of mechanical bolts. Just before hitting Obaro, a massive Magic Cylinder appeared and absorbed the bolts, then redirected them all at Crowler.
Crowler was pierced by a storm of arrows. Red welts and tears appeared on his outfit.
[Crowler, LP: 4000 → 1000]
"Then, Ancient Gear Golem attacks Darklord Ixchel!"
Finally, the attack connected. The enraged Golem smashed the fallen angel into pieces.
"Heh, whatever." Obaro didn't seem bothered.
Darklords could be revived again and again—no big deal.
No Life Points were lost, after all.
He grinned wickedly.
Crowler clutched his chest, gasping for breath, his vision reeling. In a Shadow Duel, taking 3000 damage all at once was intense—far too much for someone as out of practice as him.
Despite that, more than the pain, something else haunted him.
Even with his mind spinning and body wavering, he had to ask:
"Why? With a Deck like that, with this level of skill, able to execute such brilliant tactics—limiting my Ancient Gear Deck's strength... why would you serve Leo Akaba?
You should be an exceptional teacher. It wouldn't even be surprising for you to become a professor someday. So why?"
"Hah?" Obaro blinked in genuine confusion at Crowler's words. Then after a long pause, he burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha! Don't tell me... Professor Crowler, you actually want to be a teacher?!"
"What are you talking about??" Crowler looked at him in disbelief.
...
Stones Plzz
Read chapters ahead @patreon.com/Keepsmiling818