The spear, like a flash of red light, pierced through space, and the Black Knight, astride his steed, charged out from the call of the array. He was all set to go, tireless, with a sharp spear pointing unhesitatingly forward.
Dark Cavalry, descending for the third time!
If someone were to be awarded the "Best Model Worker Award" or something after this duel, it would certainly be the Dark Cavalry. In this duel, he repeatedly jumped back and forth between the card deck and the field, appearing three times in the brief exchanges, truly commendable...
[Dark Cavalry, Attack Power 2800]
"The effect of the Dark Cavalry is that its attack power increases by 100 points for each magic and trap card in both graveyards," said Youyu. "Since the number of magic traps in the graveyard has increased again this turn, the cavalry's attack power will increase accordingly."
[Dark Cavalry, Attack Power 2800 → Attack Power 5600]
"But it still seems insufficient," murmured the principal.
Indeed, the defense on the "Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem" was practically like a wall of copper and iron. With an attack power as high as 8200, it couldn't be targeted by effects and couldn't be destroyed by them either.
In the current environment, such a large monster with such resistance and attack power is practically unbeatable.
"But Mr. Youyu... should have a strategy, right?"
"With an attack power of 5600, although it's strong enough, it's still far from the attack power of the 'Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem', Norne," Cronos said with arms akimbo.
This was almost his limit, the Ultimate Golem with the strongest resistance and the highest power he could produce. An attack power of 8000 with such powerful effect immunity, he hardly dared to wish for a more perfect scene.
Even for the Duel King, such a monster isn't something that can be dealt with easily, right?
"Magic Card 'Spider Silk'," Youyu said. "Add a card sent to the graveyard last turn by the opponent to my hand." (Animation card)
White threads shot out from the magic card, precisely probing into the graveyard of Cronos's Duel Disc. With a strange "ah ah yay" shout, the threads dragged back a glowing green magic card.
Youyu added the card to his hand and turned it over: "The card I added to my hand is Quick-Play Magic 'De-Fusion'."
"De-Fusion?" Principal Samejima was puzzled. "Is he planning to emulate Mr. Cronos and use 'De-Fusion' to return the 'Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem' to the card deck?
The fusion material for the 'Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem' is the 'Ancient Gear Golem', which, according to its own effect, cannot be Special Summoned.
If 'De-Fusion' is used to send the Ultimate Golem back to the deck, the mechanical giant as a fusion material indeed won't return to the field. But..."
"Because of the effect of 'Forbidden Chalice', the 'Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem' cannot be targeted by effects this turn, Norne," Cronos expressed his doubts. "Mr. Youyu should know this..."
"I know," Youyu added "De-Fusion" to his hand without much explanation and then drew another card, "Equip Magic 'The Sword in the Stone'! Equip it to a monster on the field, and in exchange for skipping my draw phase, the original attack power of the equipped monster doubles." (Animation card)
Cronos was shocked: "The original attack power of Dark Cavalry is 2800..."
"That's right," Youyu explained, "With the addition of 'The Sword in the Stone' magic card and its effect, the Dark Cavalry's attack power increases by a total of 2900!"
[Dark Cavalry, Attack Power 5600 → Attack Power 8500]
"Attack power... 8500!?" Cronos was dumbfounded.
"Battle," Youyu waved his hand grandly, "Dark Cavalry, attack 'Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem'!"
The pitch-black horse reared up its front hooves and charged forward with a neigh! The steed roared as if it held lightning, and a complex magic array opened at the end of the spiral spear, summoning a black whirlwind with the red spear.
The Ultimate Golem was not to be outdone. The three steam engines within it roared at full power, swinging an iron fist to meet the assault.
It was a clash between two monsters with over eight thousand attack power, but with only a margin of three hundred points. It was a battle evenly matched, but bound by the rules of the duel there was no suspense.
The black knight charged forward like a hot knife through butter, the spear dispersing wave after wave of assaults. The magic power emitted from the spear first shattered the thick arms of the mechanical giant, then its chest core. The giant's forehead was blasted off in a series of Black Magic explosions, with shattered metal framework rolling aside with an eerie touch.
[Cronos, LP 1200 → LP 900]
Cronos held his head in his hands to block the virtual impact, still making a point to evade the debris projected by the 3D hologram. But he didn't forget to shout: "The Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem has an effect when it's destroyed!
When it is destroyed, Special Summon an 'Ancient Gear Golem' from the graveyard without considering summon conditions!"
The fortress of steel was shattered, parts and wreckage strewn everywhere, yet that was not the end!
The sound of gears meshing resumed, and the steel giant emerged from the debris. The scarlet eyes vividly reflected the cavalry's posture, and its gigantic steel hands supported its massive body as it rose from the wreckage, the mechanical structure humming with effort.
[Ancient Gear Golem, Attack Power 3000]
Cronos held his breath.
Great, this should help us get through this turn...
"Quick-Play Magic - De-Fusion," Youyu said.
Cronos: "!"
He finally reacted in astonishment, realizing that this "De-Fusion" was not prepared for his Ultimate Giant. Its target was, from the start, the Dark Cavalry itself!
"Undo the Fusion of 'Dark Cavalry'!" Youyu smiled, "This time my 'Dark Cavalry' was Fusion Summoned through regular means, with all the Fusion Material monsters existing in the graveyard.
So come back to the field, Black Magician! And Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning!"
Completing a perfect sprint, the knight withdrew once more. The power of the fused cavalry separated, transformed back into the Black Magician and Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, both returning to the field.
[Black Magician, Attack Power 2500]
[Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, Attack Power 3000]
"'De-Fusion' is a Quick-Play Magic. If you de-fuse during the Battle Phase, monsters used as Fusion Material can attack additional times."
Principal Samejima felt he could already see the conclusion.
"Next, if 'Envoy of the Beginning' and 'Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem' both perish, and 'Black Magician' delivers the final blow, the duel will truly come to an end."
The principal exhaled a murky breath.
Mr. Youyu indeed wielded 'De-Fusion' skillfully. However, Teacher Cronos played brilliantly as well; considering him as an outstanding educator is not out of the question...
"'Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning,'" Youyu indeed issued the final command, "Attack 'Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem'!"
The legendary warrior soared forward, striking a blow from a distance. The silver blade morphed into a multitude of remnants in the air, countless sword lights flashing, each burst of sword Qi carrying an explosive sound.
Dimensional Slash – Twin Blade Destruction!!!
The Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem similarly swung its fist unwillingly, the heavy punch tearing through the air with a crisp sound, the iron fist fiercely clashing against the sky filled with sword Qi.
Cronos had no Set Cards, no hand cards, and no countermeasure left. His last hope, the 'Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem,' would perish alongside the sword lights of the Black Luster Soldier, declaring his defeat...
...but that was not the case.
This teacher... actually had one final technique!
"Activate Trap Card from the graveyard!" Cronos shouted.
"Oh?" Samejima's eyes lit up, "A Trap activated from the graveyard?"
"The effect following the Trap 'Duel - Cross Dimensions'! While it exists in the graveyard, by banishing itself from the game, it can replace one instance of destruction in battle for the Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem!"
The Trap spun out from the graveyard, hanging high in the air. The Black Luster Soldier continued its charge, endless sword lights slashing down. The mechanical giant fearlessly swung its fists, but with the appearance of this card, the situation shifted instantly!
According to the effect of "Cross Dimensions," only the Black Luster Soldier would be destroyed in this battle, while the Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem would sturdily remain. In this way, the only card left on Youyu's field would be a Normal Monster, the Black Magician with 2500 attack, making it challenging to survive the next turn — Youyu would become the one in peril!
This one card rewrote the situation again!
However...
"Well played."
Youyu smiled, revealing a card from his hand.
"Envoy of Chaos," he said, "By discarding this card from my hand, until the end of the turn, the Black Luster Soldier monster's attack power increases by 1500."
[Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, Attack Power 3000 → Attack Power 4500]
Cronos: "Mamma mia! Attack Power 4500!?"
A card was inserted into the graveyard, and the situation shifted again in a flash. The swirling chaos in the heavens seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, converging entirely into this warrior, making each of his strikes shine as brilliantly as sunlight.
The giant's body was slashed open by countless sword Qi, exploding continuously. Broken gears and shattered iron pieces splattered everywhere, the industrial giant's entire being erupted in steam, crashing heavily onto the ground.
[Cronos, LP 900 → LP 0]