Anti-Spell Fragrance, like "Royal Decree," is a classic old card and a simple yet severe counter to magic cards.
It might seem less annoying than "Royal Decree," but to be fair, a magic card has to be set for a whole turn before being activated, by then it might be too late.
"...Then enter battle." Lamor sighed, "With 'Spellbook Magician of Juno,' attack 'Kozmo Tincan'."
But even such a simple attack seems futile.
"Then, activate the effect of 'Kozmo Tincan.'" Youyu said, "Banish itself from the game, Special Summon a 'Kozmo' monster with level two or above from the hand. Also, this effect can be activated during the opponent's turn.
Banish Tincan from the game, and now unveil——
——Kozmo Forerunner!!!"
The engine roared through the Interstellar City, the giant battleship emerged slowly from the rear of the Steel City, like a steel predator, glaring mercilessly at its prey.
[Kozmo Forerunner, ATK 2800]
Juno raised her magic staff aggressively, initially planning to bully the obviously weak Tincan, but in the blink of an eye, it disappeared and was replaced by an evidently formidable round spaceship.
"By the way." Youyu said, "Kozmo Forerunner cannot be targeted by the opponent's magic, trap, or monster effects."
"What troublesome things again..." Lamor frowned but seemed helpless, "Then set three cards on the field, turn ends."
"Then my turn, draw." Youyu said, "At the instant of the Standby Phase, activate the effect of 'Kozmo Forerunner', recover 1000 Life Points."
[Youyu, LP 3500 → LP 4500]
Youyu pointed to the massive Kozmotown.
"Activate the effect of 'Kozmotown', once per turn, add a 'Kozmo' that's banished back to the hand. But then must lose Life Points equal to that monster's level x100."
Youyu revealed the card that disappeared last turn.
"I retrieve 'Kozmo Tincan' to my hand, taking 100 damage."
[Youyu, LP 4500 → LP 4400]
"Next, Normal Summon 'Kozmo Tincan' from my hand again!"
[Kozmo Tincan, ATK 0]
"Then activate the effect of 'Kozmo Tincan' again!" Youyu grandly waved, "Banish 'Kozmo Tincan' once more from the game, effect activated!
Special Summon a 'Kozmo' monster from hand with level two or above!"
Lamor's face changed slightly: "This Field Magic and low-level monsters... Can you recycle low-level monsters every turn from the field, using them infinitely as a stepping stone for high-level monsters?"
"Reveal yourself, Level Five!" Youyu waved, "The interstellar assault fighter——
——Kozmo Sliprider!!!"
A stream of tail flames sliced through the sky, A red-bodied fighter jet swooped down, hovering before Youyu.
[Kozmo Sliprider, ATK 2300]
"The effect of Sliprider." Youyu said, "On the occasion of successful Summon or Special Summon, destroy one magic or trap card on the field.
Destroy the middle set card on your field!"
Last turn Lamor showcased three Spellbooks in hand, namely "Spellbook of Secrets," "Spellbook of Eternity," and "Spellbook of Life."
Due to "Anti-Spell Fragrance" they couldn't be activated directly, so all three should have been set on the field, awaiting his next turn to activate.
But Lamor raised his hand and flipped over the card locked by Sliprider.
"Activate the set card, the trap 'Waboku'! All battle damage this turn is 0, and monsters cannot be destroyed by battle!"
The trap took effect, a transparent shield enveloped Lamor, deflecting all Sliprider's laser missiles.
"Oh? Still a few life-saving traps huh?"
Waboku, known as Absolute Defense, renders most attack methods ineffective once activated, clearly halting attacks this turn.
Yet Youyu wasn't concerned.
"Then set a card on the field." Youyu said, "Next, activate the Magic Card 'Card of Demise' from hand, draw until the hand is full of five cards, discard all hand cards during the Standby Phase after five turns."
After drawing, he picked one card from the group.
"Set a card on the field, turn ends."
Lamor let out a long breath.
Though merely a few turns of exchange, he felt utterly exhausted as if he battled three hundred rounds without a break.
Duel King... what a terrifying man.
Although the situation remains overwhelmingly disadvantageous, at least now he has a chance to counterattack.
"Since it's been set for a turn, my magic card can be activated." Lamor said, "Activate the magic 'Spellbook of Secrets' set on the field!
Add one 'Spellbook' from the deck to hand."
A card popped out from the deck, which he drew into his hand.
"I add 'Spellbook of the Master' to my hand."
A fierce light flashed through Lamor's eyes.
"Next, activate 'Spellbook Magician of Juno's effect once again! Once per turn, banish 'Spellbook' from hand or graveyard, destroy one card on the field!
I banish 'Spellbook of Secrets' from the graveyard to destroy the Continuous Trap 'Anti-Spell Fragrance'!"
Juno replicated her technique, a magical beam struck the Continuous Trap which shattered like dust as the anti-magic field crumbled.
The restriction of magic was lifted.
Lamor felt as though a great weight was lifted from his heart.
It felt as if a steel blade that hovered over his head until now was finally removed.
Never before this moment had he been so grateful to still have "Spellbook Magician of Juno" with him, practically owing this life to her. If not for this long-legged lady, he would've perished when encountering "Royal Decree".
This duel from the very start had him tied hand and foot, forget strategies, he couldn't even play the cards he thought of. Having relied on the power of the Spellbook to traverse the Twelfth Dimension, he had never experienced such humiliation!
But now with the magical restraint lifted, he could finally unfold his strategy.
"Activate another set card, the Magic Card 'Spellbook of Eternity'!" Lamor said, "Choose an 'Spellbook' card banished from the game to add to hand.
The card I'll add, of course, is still this one!"
Magic surged, the storm resumed! The green card with dazzling white light emerged from the storm's center, landed directly into Lamor's hand!
Spellbook of Judgment!
Regrabbing this ultimate spellbook filled with forbidden power, Lamor felt like holding onto the future once more!
At last, the duel returned to its proper course, back to the rhythm he was familiar with! His Spellbooks would unfold a fierce storming offense, leaving any foe devastated under endless magical bombardment!
Lamor raised the card high back in his hand.
"Once more, activate! The divine spell that judges the world——
——Quick-Play Magic 'Spellbook of Judgment'!!!"
The winds howled, magic transformed into the roar of a dragon, only the most ultimate spell could summon this divine rage-like heavenly spectacle!
"As expected, you have to rely on this card's power anyhow... but that's expected." Youyu smiled indifferently.
Spellbook of Judgment, this card alone is the backbone of the entire deck, propelling the Spellbook system to top-tier status with its mere presence.
Conversely, without this card, the Spellbook deck is at best a second-tier group, with its power level dropping significantly.
That being said, it's not so easy to target it under normal circumstances. The foundation of the Spellbook deck's super-strong operation is evident, regardless if this card is sent to the graveyard, returned to the deck, or banished from the game, they have plenty of means to recover and reuse it.
So Youyu had prepared this special gift for him.
"Counter Trap——
——Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell!
Discard a Magic Card from your hand, negate and destroy the activation of a Magic Card.
Furthermore! The negated card and all its namesake cards in this duel… cannot be used!"
Lamor (losing his shine): "!!??"