Jun Manjoume LP 3600 → 1100
"Azhun, I'm taking this duel. Crimson Red Maple Queen—direct attack on the player!"
"It's too early for a half-baked amateur like you to beat me! I activate the Trap Card Six-Pointed Star of the Curse. I select one monster on your field; the selected monster cannot attack or change its battle position. The one I choose is, naturally, Crimson Red Maple Queen!"
The attack was blocked, and Puppet Plant's effect only lasts one turn. After this turn, control of Black Magician would return to Manjoume. If Youmu didn't find a way, he'd definitely lose next turn.
He had to take a gamble.
"I activate Pot of Greed, drawing two cards from my deck."
Youmu looked at the two new cards he drew. Hmm — he could barely hold on.
"I set one card face-down. Turn end."
At this moment, control of Black Magician returned to Manjoume.
"Then it's my turn. Draw!"
"Hmph. I Normal Summon Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress (ATK 1400 / DEF 1200) in Attack Position. Battle! Black Magician attacks Crimson Red Maple Queen!"
The wall monster on Youmu's field was destroyed, and his life points dropped to critical.
Youmu LP 1200 → 500
"This is the final blow! Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress, attack the player directly!"
"Even a beginner has pride! I flip my set card — Quick‑Play Spell Fake Seed. I Special Summon one Level 2 or lower Plant monster from my hand! I Summon Spud & Chip (ATK 200 / DEF 200)!"
Seeing the card image made Youmu suddenly feel a bit hungry.
"Pointless struggle. Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress, destroy that ridiculous monster. I set one more card face-down. My turn ends."
He held on, but now his hand was at zero cards. If he didn't draw something useful next turn, he was truly finished.
However, the system's mission didn't say he had to win. If it was just about completing the mission, this level might be enough.
"My turn. Draw."
He felt like he could still struggle.
"I activate the Spell Card Card of Demise, drawing cards from my deck until my hand has three cards."
He drew three new cards and examined them carefully.
"I Set one monster face-down, then I set two cards face-down. Turn end."
"My turn. I Normal Summon Green Gadget (ATK 1400 / DEF 600) in Attack Position, then activate its effect to add Red Gadget to my hand."
Youmu realized a key point: card advantage. After the same number of turns, his hand was nearly empty while Azhun still had several cards. He'd have to consider that when building his deck.
"Battle! Black Magician attacks your set monster!"
"I activate the Trap Card Attack Nullification. Its effect is..." Youmu brought the card closer to his eyes. "I choose the second effect: I take 0 damage from battle this turn."
"But your monster still won't escape!"
"My set monster is Cursed Fig. When this card is sent to the Graveyard by battle, select two set cards on your opponent's field. As long as this card is in the Graveyard, the selected cards cannot be activated. I choose your two set cards, Azhun!"
"You're a truly troublesome fellow."
"I set one card face-down. Turn end."
The situation looked overwhelmingly bad, but his set card might save him.
"My turn. Draw." Good — the set card could be used.
"I activate the Spell Card Thorn of Malice, which I set last turn. I banish one Plant monster from my Graveyard, and I can only activate this card by targeting one face-up monster on my opponent's field, gaining control of the targeted monster.
I banish Green Tree Spirit King and gain control of Black Magician!"
"You again!"
"But why didn't he activate it last turn?" a spectator asked.
"Last turn, the opponent had two set cards. If he couldn't finish him in one blow, control would return next turn," another answered. "Now two set cards are sealed; although the opponent still has new set cards, the risk is much smaller."
Youmu nodded. He had thought the same.
"Black Magician attacks Green Gadget!"
Manjoume's life points were 1100. If this hit...
"Counter Trap — Attack Negation! When an opponent's monster declares an attack, that attack is negated, and the Battle Phase ends!"
"Azhun, can't you give this beginner a break?" Youmu joked, though he had expected this play.
"At the end of the turn, Black Magician, controlled by Thorn of Malice, will return to my field. Do you have anything else to do?"
"Of course. I Tribute Black Magician to Normal Summon Fairy King Albverdich (ATK 2200 / DEF 1500) in Attack Position. Turn end."
Youmu had learned from Puppet Plant's flaw. This time, he Tributed the controlled monster, ensuring he still had a monster on his field while dealing with Black Magician.
"Oh, well done," Manjoume said, raising an eyebrow.
"However, this is as far as you go. My turn. Draw! I Tribute Green Gadget to Normal Summon Black Magician Girl (ATK 2000 / DEF 1700) in Attack Position!"
Manjoume played a very cute monster, and the venue erupted.
"What! It's Black Magician Girl!"
"I can't believe I get to see this card in person. Is this happiness real!?"
"Move aside — don't block my view of my wife!"
Is this card that powerful? She was indeed very cute.
"But this card's ATK is lower than Fairy King's."
"Hmph. Black Magician Girl can inherit her master's power. This card's ATK increases by 300 for each 'Black Magician' and 'Dark Magician of Chaos' in both players' Graveyards."
Black Magician Girl ATK 2000 → 2300
"...It surpassed it by 100. Next turn I absolutely must—"
"There is no next turn! I activate the Equip Spell Magic Formula; the equipped monster's ATK increases by 700."
Black Magician Girl ATK 2300 → 3000
"3000 ATK — that's Blue-Eyes White Dragon level!"
"Hehe, my wife is amazing!"
"Battle. Black Magician Girl attacks Fairy King!"
Qin Youmu LP 500 → 0
He lost. Youmu felt a little disappointed; even as a beginner, he didn't want to lose.
Applause filled the room.
"Kid, you did great to Duel against the Duel King's Deck this far!"
"How about it — want a rematch?"
Youmu paused, then smiled. In the end, it wasn't bad.
Then he successfully scared the child watching nearby.