Yugen, LP 4000
Kajiki Makoto, LP 4000
Today, Kajiki's luck was good; he got the first turn. Player Kajiki drew his cards, and upon examining his six-card starting hand, his eyes immediately lit up.
"Perfect starting hand. JPG."
If Yugen's previous opponents mostly underestimated him due to his unimpressive resume, Kajiki Makoto would not.
He had also watched Yugen's previous matches, especially the Top 8 duel against Manjome. After reviewing it, he felt that this person, while not to be underestimated, was more of an opportunistic opponent in his eyes. His strength wasn't non-existent, but it wasn't overly significant either.
"Hmph, as long as I know your strategy in advance, being prepared means you're no threat at all." Kajiki roared, "My turn!"
Kajiki's morale surged. Without another word, he slapped a card face down, indicating he was about to Fusion Summon. He performed a hand Fusion of "Robotic Knight" and "Machine King," directly summoning an 8-star great monster, Perfect Machine King.
After this card was materialized, it was changed into an effect monster, but in the anime, it was originally just a Fusion Monster. At the same time, its original effect was that its ATK increased by 500 for every Machine-Type monster on the field. Since it itself was a Machine-Type monster, its base ATK upon being summoned was 3200.
Perfect Machine King, ATK 2700 → ATK 3200
Starting by summoning his deck's ace, Kajiki felt this game was already half-won. A direct turn 1 Blue-Eyes White Dragon with +200 ATK, just ask how he could lose?
Then it was Yugen's turn.
Yugen remained unhurried, first normal summoning Giant Rat. A mutated, furry giant rat, looking like it was on steroids, burst onto the field, baring its fangs at the opponent and letting out ferocious squeaks from its throat.
Giant Rat, ATK 1400
Next, Yugen waved his hand and directly commanded: "Giant Rat, attack 'Perfect Machine King'!"
Giant Rat: "?"
Its bewildered gaze seemed to be asking, "Dude, are you serious? Its ATK is more than twice mine!"
"Why don't you ask me to go capture Tang Sanzang and his disciples instead?"
But a master's command was a command. The sacrificial rat could only bite the bullet and charge at the Machine King, and as expected, it was directly annihilated.
Yugen, LP 4000 → LP 2200
A direct suicidal attack on turn 1 stunned the opponent.
What was the meaning of this? Are duelists so polite nowadays? Going straight into the match and offering a warm welcome?
Could it be that the dojo secretly paid him to hire an actor?
However, he immediately understood. That suicidal attacking rat had a dying message. When Giant Rat is destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, it can Special Summon one monster with 1500 or less ATK with the same Attribute from the deck.
Upon hearing this effect, Kajiki's heart merely scoffed.
1500 or less ATK? Aren't those just small fry?
"Special Summon this card from the deck," Yugen revealed the card, "Spell Striker!"
Spell Striker, ATK 600
A small fellow, looking like it jumped out of a Chibi animation, popped onto the field. It waved a tiny scepter in its hand, its art style and small stature only making people feel like it was trying to be cute.
"Spell Striker's effect, it can attack the opponent directly!" Yugen waved, "Direct attack!"
Kajiki Makoto, LP 4000 → LP 3400
Kajiki Makoto, who took 600 points of damage, didn't care at all: "Ha, just for that much damage? It doesn't hurt a bit..."
Clearly, this guy didn't realize the gravity of the situation.
Yugen smiled: "My Battle Phase ends. Next, I activate the Equip Spell 'Power of the Guardians' from my hand and equip it to 'Spell Striker'.
Then, my turn ends."
Witnessing a golden aura envelop Spell Striker, yet its ATK remained unchanged, Kajiki Makoto couldn't help but mutter.
Wasn't this just equipping it for nothing?
Dueling in this world was unlike Yugen's previous life. Players couldn't view their opponent's card effects in real-time. Only if they knew and remembered the card's effect could they immediately understand and react accordingly.
"My turn!"
Kajiki Makoto drew a card, then immediately said: "I Normal Summon 'Robotic Knight' in Attack Position!"
Robotic Knight, ATK 1600
"Because the number of Machine-Type monsters on the field increased, 'Perfect Machine King's' ATK increases by another 500."
Perfect Machine King, ATK 3200 → ATK 3700
Kajiki Makoto waved his hand: "Use 'Robotic Knight' to attack 'Spell Striker'!"
Robotic Knight took a step forward, but before it could launch its attack, the golden aura on Spell Striker shimmered.
"At this moment, 'Power of the Guardians' effect activates," Yugen said, "When a monster equipped with 'Power of the Guardians' declares an attack, a Spell Counter can be placed on this card.
Also, for each Spell Counter on 'Power of the Guardians', the equipped monster gains 500 ATK."
Power of the Guardians, Spell Counters 0 → 1
Spell Striker, ATK 600 → ATK 1100
"Ha, adding this much ATK is completely useless!" Kajiki Makoto shouted, "Battle continues, Robotic Knight, destroy that weakling monster!"
However, when the metal fist slammed down, it only produced a faint golden ripple. As the ripple dissipated, Spell Striker still stood firm, unharmed.
Kajiki Makoto: "!"
Why!?
"'Power of the Guardians' other effect," Yugen said, "If the equipped monster would be destroyed, you can remove one Spell Counter from this card instead, to negate that monster's battle or effect destruction."
Power of the Guardians, Spell Counters 1 → 0
Spell Striker, ATK 1100 → ATK 600
Kajiki Makoto: "?"
Wait a minute.
"You just said 'Power of the Guardians' only places a Spell Counter when an attack is declared, right?!" Kajiki felt he had found a blind spot, "But just now, it was clearly my attack. Your monster didn't declare an attack at all. Why could it still gain [ATK]?"
He began to suspect if he had been tricked.
"Is this your first day dueling?" Yugen squinted at him, patiently explaining as if to a newcomer in a card game club, "'Power of the Guardians' description isn't 'When the equipped monster declares an attack, place a Spell Counter', but 'During the Battle Step when the equipped monster battles'."
Kajiki: "?"
What's the difference?
"Whether it's your attack or my active attack, as long as monsters battle, there will be a 'Battle Step'. So, as long as two monsters battle, the effect of placing a Spell Counter will activate."
Yugen continued to patiently explain Konami's profound and extensive language to his opponent.
Kajiki: "!"
What?! Isn't that invincible then?
As long as it's attacked, it gains a Spell Counter, and then as long as a Spell Counter is removed, destruction is negated.
So a monster equipped with this thing becomes immortal?
"Hold on."
Kajiki raised an eyebrow, realizing things weren't that simple.
"But battle damage should still be calculated, right?" he asked suspiciously.
"Ah, that's 'Spell Striker's' own effect," Yugen said, "While 'Spell Striker' is battling, all damage dealt to my side is 0."
Kajiki: "!?!"
Battle damage is 0... wait, something's wrong, very wrong.
Because it's equipped with "Power of the Guardians," no matter how it's attacked, Spell Striker is immortal.
And because of Spell Striker's own effect, the opponent takes no battle damage.
Then Spell Striker can also directly attack the opponent's player—no, not just that, because of "Power of the Guardians'" effect, the more times it attacks, the higher its ATK will become.
Hiss
Kajiki gasped, utterly horrified.
The guy who could come up with such a sinister strategy...
Is he a f*cking dog?!