"It's my turn now—"
The Duke drew a card from the Deck, pondering the cards in his hand for a moment.
First, let's change my hand.
"Activate the Spell Card, Allure of Darkness. Draw two cards. Then banish 1 Dark Attribute Monster from the hand." He drew two cards from the Deck, glanced at the other cards in his hand, nodded lightly, and revealed a card, "I banish the Annihilator Archfiend from my hand."
"Next, Normal Summon, Archfiend Cavalry!"
Whinny—
A Skull Knight riding a Ghost Horse appeared on the Duke's field.
"Then—the effect of Berserk Archfiend in my hand, targeting my own Archfiend Cavalry on the field. This card is Special Summoned, then destroy Archfiend Cavalry!"
"Roar!!!"
The Berserk Archfiend, disheveled and wielding a giant axe, howled as it appeared.
Berserk Archfiend, LV 6, Dark Attribute, Fiend-Type, ATK 2000.
"Activate Berserk Archfiend's effect. When using its own effect to appear on the field, select and target face-up monsters on the opponent's field up to the number of monsters destroyed. Until the end of my next turn, this card gains ATK equal to the combined original attack values of the targeted monsters."
"I've destroyed one of my own Monsters, so I can target one of your Monsters to increase ATK. The choice is your Predaplant Chimerafflesia!"
Berserk Archfiend raised its axe, roared, and chopped through the plants, devouring them.
"Meanwhile, the effect of Archfiend Cavalry: When this card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard, target 1 Fiend Monster in your Graveyard other than Archfiend Cavalry and Special Summon it. The Monster Special Summoned by this effect cannot attack this turn.
I Special Summon in Defense Position, Archfiend Commander."
Berserk Archfiend, ATK: 2000→4500.
Archfiend Commander, LV 6, Dark Attribute, Fiend-Type, DEF 1200.
Still in Defense Position, truly cautious.
"4500 attack points! It's already comparable to the legendary Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!"
"What high attack power—"
The followers of the Archfiend Duke couldn't help but cheer for it.
Effects, tactics—such things depend on whether a person understands the game, but if the attack value is high, it's high, recognizable to the naked eye.
"Then…" It glanced at its cards, "Quick-Play Spell Card, Offerings to the Doomed. Target 1 face-up Monster on the field and destroy it. Skip your next Draw Phase."
Offerings to the Doomed, huh.
Tenjo Hikari remembered this card quite fondly, a classic card in DL.
A strange shrine on the field began to glow slowly, flames erupted out of nowhere, and soon enough, Chimerafflesia was consumed by the fire.
"Oh no—" Thousand Gold exclaimed quietly.
It definitely didn't want Tenjo Hikari to lose.
But with this situation, it seemed like Tenjo Hikari was being forced out of all defensive measures!
If Tenjo Hikari doesn't use a Set Card, then Berserk Archfiend with 4500 attack can attack directly for Game Victory!
The realization of this fact wasn't lost just on it, as the other onlooking Spirits gasped in surprise.
"Berserk Archfiend direct attack!" The Duke of Demise raised its hand, as the aura of decay began to spread, summoning the demons under its command to attack as the "Duke."
Berserk Archfiend began to gather strength, the massive axe about to fall.
"Open the Set Card—" Tenjo Hikari couldn't help it, immediately flipping the Set Card.
Firstly, Trap Card, Chain Material.
After activation, during this turn, when Tenjo Hikari performs Fusion Summon, he can banish Fusion Materials from his hand, Deck, field, or Graveyard as Fusion Materials. Monsters Summoned using the effect are destroyed during the end phase of the turn.
Then, chaining further, after the Trap Card's effect resolving, activate Trap Card, Necro Fusion.
"I banish Ancient Gear Commander and Ancient Gear Hunting Hound from the Deck, Special Summon in Defense Position, Ancient Gear Howitzer!"
Ancient Gear Howitzer, LV 8, Earth Attribute, Machine-Type, DEF 1800.
"Ancient Gear…" Camilla looked at the card, her expression not so good; losing to an "ugly" Duelist had kept her awake for a while, every time she tried to sleep she'd be jolted awake by Cronos's face, making her uncomfortable all over.
But she also knew that the man named Cronos was Tenjo Hikari's teacher, so using such cards was normal.
"Ancient Gear Howitzer?" The old Duke scrutinized it for a while, saying quietly, "If I remember correctly, after it's destroyed by battle, it can Special Summon Ancient Gear Golem disregarding Summoning conditions, right?
I won't attack—even chain material Fusion Monsters must be destroyed during the end phase of the turn anyway.
I'll Set two cards, ending the turn."
Bang!
Ancient Gear Howitzer dissipated immediately.
Now, nothing left on Tenjo Hikari's field, only Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio remaining in hand.
"Oh dear, If you would've directly fused me at the start of the round, you'd have never lost?" Tierra couldn't resist mocking, seeing Tenjo Hikari's situation.
Thousand Gold couldn't help but perk up its ears out of curiosity.
As far as it knew, Midrash shouldn't be able to do such a thing?
"Don't be silly, you should know very well, there is only one Lilith and one Satan in this Deck, along with Hex-Sealed Fusion, no effect strong enough for that." Tenjo Hikari refuted her, "Besides, there's no De-Fusion now, how come, you want a trip to the Graveyard?"