The Dark Magicians, Summon!
The Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl stood side by side, their magical arrays merging beneath their feet, creating swirling vortices of magic power.
[The Dark Magicians, Attack Power 2800]
This card was printed by the King six years ago, but it disappeared into the Netherworld with him when he left the present world.
However, after years of tireless effort by the developers at the International Fantasy Society, this Magic Fusion Card, originally created and manually printed by the King, finally made its official debut.
Needless to say, Youyu snagged a copy from Tenma Yako when it was first released.
Strictly speaking, today is the card's first real battle showcase.
"Youyu-san is indeed as rumored, always possessing unexpected rare cards," Cronos said. "But with an attack power of 2800, it can't defeat the Ancient Gear Golem with an attack power of 3000..."
"Equip Magic 'Magic Formula,'" Youyu said, "Equip to a Spellcaster-Type monster, increase attack power by 500." (Animation effect)
The physical card "Magic Formula" can increase attack power by 700 and restore life points when sent to the graveyard, but it can only be equipped by the "Dark Magician" or "Dark Magician Girl."
Though the effect was diminished in the animation original, its applicability was broadened.
A trade-off, indeed.
A thick book of magic floated before the duo, its pages flipping automatically. Dark Magician Girl peeked her golden little head over, frantically cramming to read the incantations recorded in the book—though Youyu doubted she could comprehend such esoteric spell books with her limited mental capacity.
[The Dark Magicians, Attack Power 2800 → Attack Power 3300]
"The attack power surpassed the Ancient Gear Golem, Norne!" Cronos exclaimed.
"And now for the effect of 'The Dark Magicians.' Once per turn, when a Magic or Trap effect is activated, draw a card from the deck. If it is a Magic or Trap Card, it can be set directly on the field."
He drew a card, glanced at it, then swiftly set it on the field.
"Battle," Youyu gestured, "The Dark Magicians, attack 'Ancient Gear Golem'!"
The staffs of the magicians intertwined, dark red and black magic twining together, transforming into a spiraling light cannon that blasted out.
"But it's not that easy!" Cronos waved a hand, "Trap Card activated, Norne! Trap Card - Dust Tornado! Select a Magic or Trap Card on the field to destroy!"
Cronos pointed to the book floating before Dark Magician Girl.
"Destroy 'Magic Formula'!"
Dark Magician Girl was engrossed in the book's spell, yet suddenly, an ominous wind blew from nowhere. The girl let out a startled "Ah," and the book in her hand was blown high into the sky, ripped into countless pieces by the wind pressure.
[The Dark Magicians, Attack Power 3300 → Attack Power 2800]
"Now the attack power of the Ancient Gear Golem has the upper hand again, Norne." Cronos clenched his fist, "Go, Ancient Gear Golem! Ancient Gear Heavy Punch!"
The gear on the giant's chest sped up, and its metallic arm lifted heavily. Countless mechanical components cooperated, metal grinding produced a crisp sound; the incoming punch appeared like a steam-spitting rocket cannon.
"Oh," Principal Samejima continued to praise, "Cronos-sensei is very competent, facing the assault of the Duel King, able to organize such a swift and beautiful counterattack..."
"The effect of the Dark Magicians." But Youyu wasn't finished, "According to the effect of the The Dark Magicians, the card set on the field can be activated in the turn it was set.
Using this effect, activate the Set Card, Quick-Play Magic 'Gravity Lash'!
Select a monster on the field, until the end of the turn, reduce the selected monster's attack power by its own defense value!"
"What!?" Cronos-sensei suddenly revealed... a very Pot of Greed-like expression.
Youyu declared, "I choose 'Ancient Gear Golem,' reducing its attack power by its defense value!"
[Ancient Gear Golem, Attack Power 3000 → Attack Power 0]
With attack and defense both at 3000, a balanced stat panel that now became the giant's own burden. The gears of the giant seemed to have jammed, and its metallic chest emitted the lament of components. It bent a knee, clumsily collapsing to the ground, dealing a shock to the entire ground as its iron-colored palm struck it.
The attack by the magicians shattered the giant's internal structure at its core. The Ancient Gear Golem fell like a broken fortress, scattered gears and components littering the ground.
"Mama mia!" Cronos shrieked, "My Ancient Gear, it's been..."
[Cronos, LP 4000 → LP 1200]
"Turn ends."
The two magicians returned to stand before Youyu. Dark Magician Girl was elated, raising a petite white hand as if wanting to high-five her mentor. Sadly, the Dark Magician maintained a stern face, resembling a machine with no hint of reaction. The girl reluctantly withdrew her hand.
"Yes, indeed, Youyu-san's tactics aren't so easily unraveled," Principal Samejima mused, "Whether Cronos-sensei can smoothly earn the outstanding teacher evaluation all depends on this performance."
Triggered by the term "outstanding teacher," the defeated Cronos suddenly regained his vigor.
Exactly! Winning this duel isn't mandatory, but I must show Mr. Youyu my strength!
Nominate outstanding teachers, get a promotion and a raise, become the principal, and ascend to the pinnacle of life in high society!
Perfect plan.JPG.
Cronos's fighting spirit reignited in an instant, and he roused himself again.
"From now on, I'm going to be serious, Norne! Draw a card!"
He glanced at his hand, gesturing with the cards while muttering "this one, this one," looking somewhat amusing.
"Alright, let's do it! Activate the Magic Card~ 'Graceful Charity' from my hand. Draw three cards from the deck~"
Cronos drew three cards and examined them carefully.
"Then send two cards from the hand to the graveyard."
"At this moment, the effect of The Dark Magicians also activates," Youyu said, "Once per turn, when a Magic or Trap Effect is activated, I draw one card from the deck. If it is a Magic Trap Card, it can be directly Set on the field."
Youyu drew a card, took a quick look, and directly inserted it into the Duel Disc, setting it on the field.
"Magic Card - Pot of Greed, draw two more cards."
Drawing two cards, Cronos quickly started his operations for this turn.
"Magic Card 'Ancient Gear Workshop' activated!" Cronos said, "Return an 'Ancient Gear' Monster from my graveyard to my hand.
I return 'Ancient Gear Golem' to my hand."
The Ancient Gear Golem in the graveyard ejected from the Duel Disc, returned to his hand.
"Next is the Magic Card 'Mad Summoning Gear'!" Cronos held up a card in his hand, "Target one Monster on your opponent's field, your opponent can Special Summon up to two Monsters from the deck of the same Type and Level!" (Anime Card)
"Oh? So generous, huh?"
That's what he said, but Youyu only had "The Dark Magicians" on the field, a Spellcaster-Type with Level eight.
There aren't many Level eight Spellcaster-Types, many of which have effects that restrict summoning conditions and can't fly directly out of the deck.
So Youyu only had one option here.
"Then I Special Summon this card." Youyu drew a card from the deck, "Level eight, Dark Magician of Chaos!"
Light and darkness intertwined, chaos vortex. The power of chaos and the mystery of black magic perfectly merged, and a slender figure in tight armor spun out. The Magic Staff waved, and the stirring breath seemed to impact the barrier of time and space.
[Dark Magician of Chaos, Attack Power 2800]
"When Dark Magician of Chaos is summoned, add a Magic Card from the graveyard to the hand." (Old effect)
Youyu took a card out of the graveyard.
"I retrieve 'Pot of Greed' from the graveyard to my hand."
"Oh, the legendary chaos mage who descends after the baptism of light and darkness." Principal Samejima said, "Teacher Cronos gifted a pretty powerful Monster to their opponent. So, what will happen next?"
"The follow-up effect of 'Mad Summoning Gear'!"
A significant cost naturally should be accompanied by a corresponding effect. Cronos took a card from his graveyard, and two other cards automatically ejected from the deck.
"'Mad Summoning Gear,' after letting the opponent Special Summon a Monster, you can choose one Monster from your graveyard with attack power less than 1500 to Special Summon. Then, you can Special Summon as many cards with the same name in attack position from the deck as possible!"
Cronos revealed the card he sent to the graveyard at the start of this turn.
"I Special Summon all three 'Ancient Gear Soldier' cards!"
[Ancient Gear Soldier, Attack Power 1300] x3
"It's not over yet, Norne!" Cronos seems to have found his rhythm and continued his operations, "Magic Card 'Spell Gear' activated! Send three 'Ancient Gear' cards on the field to the graveyard, then destroy all Monsters on your field!
From the hand, Special Summon an 'Ancient Gear Golem' ignoring summoning conditions, then from the deck Special Summon as many 'Ancient Gear Golem' cards as possible!" (Anime Effect)
"Whoa!" Principal Samejima's eyes lit up, "So this is the purpose?"
The principal was greatly anticipating the upcoming developments.
"So according to this effect..."
Cronos revealed three cards in one action and slammed them onto the Duel Disc. The projection system operated at full speed, the colors and light intertwined around the Duel Disc Cronos wore like a guitar surrounded by colorful streaming lights.
"I Special Summon all three 'Ancient Gear Golem' cards ignoring summoning conditions!!!"