Chapter 187. Chain 11: Drytron + Herald! Head-On Negates Break the Old Guard!
Jaden Yuki and Aster Phoenix stared blankly as the last short video ended.
At this point.
For a long while, the two of them still couldn't believe it.
A single Duel!
Could actually use hand-rip tactics to effectively secure an OTK in disguise!
"Let me say this up front—we HERO players fight fair and square, not like that."
"We would never use repeated hand-rip plays."
"To disgust the opponent."
Jaden immediately declared this in the group chat.
He didn't want one short video.
To make Duelists from every world look down on HERO players!
"I know, I get it."
"'Hero,' sure, but the 'hero' could also be the 'heel'!"
"This hand-rip plainly aims to make the opponent completely unable to play Yu-Gi-Oh!"
Weevil Underwood seized the chance and went off with his commentary.
For him, talking doesn't cost anything.
All the more so when it's Duelists from other worlds.
"I can only say—the higher world has a lot of specialists with party tricks."
"That earlier one-card double-banish to blank two cards is similar."
"I figure the HERO hand-rip is just a small piece of the whole."
Yusei Fudo quickly offered a calm analysis.
He already had some understanding of the higher world.
So for these specialized trick-masters.
He was no longer surprised.
"Isn't that right!"
"That absolute lock board is still vivid in my mind!"
"To this day I still can't think of a way to crack that absolute lock matchup!"
Playmaker suddenly recalled that earlier showtime setup by a trick-master.
Maxed out every lock to perform a pseudo-FTK.
And the hand-rip was a bit similar to this.
Make the opponent have no usable cards, and thus lose!
The group chat grew busier and busier!
Duelists from several other worlds.
Had never witnessed such a hand-rip scene.
So they quickly got into heated exchange and discussion with Jaden!
Over on Sei Yuki's side, he soon found another "for-fun" video.
"Hm? Drytron with Heralds?"
"Come to think of it."
"Drytron as an engine—I haven't run into it for a long time."
"But Heralds are still common."
"The core issue is that Ritual Decks have too many weaknesses."
"If it isn't Nekroz, honestly."
"I've almost forgotten Rituals are a major mechanic in Yu-Gi-Oh."
"Then let's watch this 'head-on negate' Drytron + Herald video."
Muttering to himself, Sei Yuki quickly locked in the next video.
At the same time.
The title appeared across the Duel Worlds.
"Drytron + Herald Snipes the Center! Countering Eldlich All Day!"
After reading the title.
The previously noisy voices across the Duel Worlds gradually faded.
One by one, they stared blankly at the next "for-fun" video's title.
Drytron? Heralds?
For these two, not much impression or memory.
Drytron seemed to be a first contact?
But they had seen Eldlich.
Back when it was explained.
The whole Eldlich system left a deep impression.
Especially that two-thirds Trap backrow—purely oppressive!
It shattered their deck-building common sense!
So here's the question.
What's in this short video?
Very soon.
The Duel info appeared.
Drytron + Herald VS Eldlich!
Both players' Life Points: 8000 LP!
Going first: Drytron + Herald.
Going second: Eldlich!
Drytron + Herald: "I activate the Spell Card, Preparation of Rites!"
Drytron + Herald: "Per its effect, I add Cyber Angel Benten from my Deck to my hand!"
Drytron + Herald: "I activate the Spell Card, Drytron Nova!"
"I Special Summon Drytron Alpha Thuban from my Deck!"
"Use Drytron Alpha Thuban alone to Link Summon Linkuriboh!"
"In the Graveyard, Drytron Alpha Thuban activates—by Tributing Cyber Angel Benten from my hand, I Special Summon it!"
"After Alpha's effect resolves, I add the Ritual Spell Meteonis Drytron from my Deck!"
"In the Graveyard, Cyber Angel Benten activates—I add Diviner of the Herald from my Deck!"
"I Normal Summon Diviner of the Herald, send Herald of the Arc Light from my Extra Deck to the Graveyard, then Diviner's Level becomes 6!"
"In the Graveyard, Herald of the Arc Light activates—I add Herald of Ultimateness from my Deck!"
"I activate the Ritual Spell Meteonis Drytron, I Tribute the on-field Drytron Alpha Thuban!"
"I Ritual Summon Cyber Angel Benten."
"Now I control two Level 6 monsters!"
"Diviner and Benten build the Overlay Network!"
"Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal!"
"I activate a second Preparation of Rites!"
"I add Cyber Angel Benten from my Deck, and return the Meteonis Drytron in my Graveyard to my hand!"
"I activate Beatrice's effect, detach 1 material, and send Drytron Zeta Aldhibah from my Deck to the Graveyard!"
"I activate Drytron Zeta Aldhibah in the Graveyard—by Tributing the Benten in my hand, I Special Summon it!"
"Drytron Zeta Aldhibah adds Meteonis Drytron!"
"The Tributed Benten activates—I add a third copy of Benten!"
Stunned!
All stunned!
Across the Duel Worlds.
No one expected that in the higher world.
A Ritual-centric Deck.
Also needed all these unreadable lines and explosive plays!
One moment it's Cyber Angels.
The next it's Drytron.
Then it's Heralds again!
Wait, what?
How does any of this connect?
Is this really the Ritual mechanic?
Why does it feel completely different from what we imagined?
And those support Ritual search Spells.
Like this Preparation of Rites.
Totally broke the Ritual players' brains!
There's a Ritual search card this strong?
Then in the higher world.
Wouldn't Ritual Decks be thriving?
Meanwhile.
In Duel Academy.
Asuka Tenjoin, who excels at Rituals, was already dumbfounded.
Her Cyber Angels.
In this system.
Merely act as lubricating search pieces?
It seems the main axis doesn't even need her Cyber Angel ace Rituals!
No Dakini, no Idaten—none of those are needed?
"That's odd?"
"So in this system, Benten is the most important lubricant?"
"You really don't need any other Cyber Angel monsters?"
After muttering, Asuka quickly calmed down.
Her gaze returned to the short video.
To enjoy what came next.
Drytron + Herald: "The two Level 1 Drytron on my field build the Overlay Network!"
Drytron + Herald: "Xyz Summon! Drytron Mu Beta Fafnir!"
Drytron + Herald: "I activate Mu Beta Fafnir, sending Drytron Delta Altais from my Deck to the Graveyard!"
"Drytron Delta Altais activates—by Tributing Benten in my hand, I Special Summon it!"
"Then I add Drytron Meteonis Draconids from my Deck!"
"In the Graveyard, Benten activates—I add Cyber Angel Natasha from my Deck!"
"I activate the Ritual Spell again! Meteonis Drytron!"
"Mu Beta Fafnir detaches 1 material as Tribute!"
"Ritual Summon! Drytron Meteonis Draconids!"
"I Link Summon using Drytron Delta Altais and Drytron Mu Beta Fafnir!"
"Link-2! Union Carrier!"
"I activate Union Carrier, target itself, and equip Eva from my Deck!"
"In the Graveyard, Meteonis Drytron activates—I target my on-field Drytron Meteonis Draconids to reduce its ATK by 1000!"
"Then I return Meteonis Drytron from my Graveyard to my hand!"
"I activate the Ritual Spell again, Tributing Union Carrier!"
"Ritual Summon! Herald of Ultimateness!"
"I activate Eva in the Graveyard—I banish Cyber Angel Benten and Herald of the Arc Light!"
"I add Diviner of the Herald and Herald of Orange Light from my Deck!"
"My turn is over!"
In the DM world.
Yugi Muto and the Pharaoh were already numb!
In their impression, Rituals were just: activate a Ritual Spell, Tribute monsters, Ritual Summon the Ritual in hand… right?
Why does this system make it so complicated?
What broke them even more.
Was that this Meteonis Drytron could be recovered!
Which means.
As long as you have this one Ritual Spell in hand!
You never have to worry about lacking a Ritual Spell to assist your Ritual Summons afterward!
As long as there's a Ritual Monster.
You can recycle this Spell to hand for more Ritual Summons!
Absurd!
In the 5D's world.
Even though Yusei and the others weren't keen on Rituals.
After watching this Drytron + Herald line.
They noticed something off!
Especially that Herald of Ultimateness on the field!
Its effect lets you send 1 Fairy from hand to the Graveyard to activate one of these effects.
First, when the opponent activates a monster effect, Spell, or Trap: negate that activation, and destroy it.
Second, when the opponent would Special Summon: negate that Special Summon, and destroy those monsters.
Three-color negate plus Special Summon negate!
And it has no "once per turn" clause!
Thinking of this.
Yusei's pupils trembled—he had a bad feeling.
Eldlich: "My turn! Draw!"
Eldlich: "I activate the Continuous Spell, Cursed Eldland!"
Drytron + Herald: "I activate the effect of Herald of Ultimateness on the field!"
Drytron + Herald: "I discard Eva from my hand!"
"Negate your Cursed Eldland's activation and destroy it!"
"Then Eva in the Graveyard activates—I banish Cyber Angel Benten and Eva from the Graveyard!"
"I add Diviner of the Herald and Herald of Orange Light from my Deck!"
Eldlich: "I Set 5 cards!"
Eldlich: "I end my turn."
As expected!
As befits Eldlich!
After getting interrupted, straight to 5 Set backrow—please advise!
Even knowing that the Herald over there could negate a lot.
But.
With 5 Set cards on the table.
Negating all of them in one breath.
Should be impossible, right?
Maybe, probably, impossible?
Just as Duelists thought this.
Their expressions began to twist.
Wait.
Masaka!
Yamero!
No way!
Drytron + Herald: "My turn! Draw!"
Drytron + Herald: "Chain Link 1, I activate the Spell Card, Drytron Nova!"
Eldlich: "Chain Link 2, I activate the Trap Card, Compulsory Evacuation Device!"
Eldlich: "I target your Herald of Ultimateness to return it to the hand."
Drytron + Herald: "Chain Link 3, I activate Herald of Ultimateness!"
Drytron + Herald: "I discard a Herald of Orange Light to negate your Compulsory Evacuation Device!"
Eldlich: "Chain Link 4, I activate Conquistador of the Golden Land!"
Eldlich: "After this card's activation, it becomes a Normal Monster (Zombie/LIGHT/Level 5/ATK 500/DEF 1800) and is Special Summoned to the Monster Zone!"
Drytron + Herald: "Chain Link 5, I activate Herald of Ultimateness!"
Drytron + Herald: "I discard a Herald of Orange Light to negate your Conquistador of the Golden Land!"
Eldlich: "Chain Link 6, I activate Imperial Order!"
Eldlich: "While this card remains in the Spell & Trap Zone, negate the effects of all Spell Cards on the field."
Drytron + Herald: "Chain Link 7, I activate Herald of Ultimateness!"
Drytron + Herald: "I discard a Herald of Orange Light to negate your Imperial Order!"
Eldlich: "Chain Link 8, I activate Vanity's Emptiness!"
Eldlich: "While this card is in the Spell & Trap Zone, neither player can Special Summon monsters."
Drytron + Herald: "Chain Link 9, I activate Herald of Ultimateness!"
Drytron + Herald: "I discard a Diviner of the Herald to negate your Vanity's Emptiness!"
Eldlich: "Chain Link 10, I activate Gozen Match!"
Eldlich: "While this card is in the Spell & Trap Zone, each player can only control 1 Attribute of monsters in face-up position on their field; any excess must be sent to the Graveyard until it becomes 1 Attribute."
Drytron + Herald: "Chain Link 11, I activate Herald of Ultimateness!"
Drytron + Herald: "I discard a Diviner of the Herald to negate your Gozen Match!"
"Chain resolves."
"All your Traps are negated."
Eldlich: "You xxxx! You xxxx!"
Eldlich: "Love to negate, huh xxx! I surrender!"
After an 11-chain sequence, plus Eldlich's cordial greetings at the end.
The highly theatrical short video ended.
Right now.
Duelists across every Duel World were dumbfounded, staring wide-eyed at that Chain 11!
Many rubbed their eyes, afraid they had misread something.
Some shook their heads, unable to believe what kind of chain they had just understood.
A few were already scratching their heads in madness!
How many?
How many links in that chain?
How many times did Herald of Ultimateness negate?
How many backrow cards did the Eldlich player fire?
After a long while.
All the Duelists still couldn't believe the head-on negates they'd just seen!
Next second.
The group chat exploded!
Yugi Muto: "Holy—! What is Herald of Ultimateness? Infinite tri-color negates?!"
Jaden Yuki: "My brain is fried—that Chain-11 negate sequence had my eyes spinning!"
Asuka Tenjoin: "So this is… the power of Herald of Ultimateness? Five Trap Cards, all negated?"
Yuma Tsukumo: "No wonder Eldlich started with those 'cordial greetings' afterward! If it were me, my resolve would shatter too!"
Playmaker: "Who knew Herald of Ultimateness had that much ammo? Eldlich hard-countered itself into tilt."
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