"First, I normally summon this card,"
Kurosaki slammed down a Monster Card.
"Mao Zha in attack position!"
[Mao Zha, Attack Power 100]
In his heart, Yugen immediately had an idea of the cards used by his opponent.
"Then, the effect of 'King of Furred Beasts' in the graveyard."
Kurosaki retrieved a card he had just discarded to the graveyard.
"When this card is in the graveyard, you can special summon it from the graveyard by sacrificing a 'Mao Zha' on your field.
I sacrifice the 'Mao Zha' on the field to resurrect from the graveyard! Appear now—
— King of Furred Beasts!"
The small Mao Zha vanished from the field, replaced by a massive dark furred beast. Its pitch-black fur obscured a terrifying body, golden legs protruding from the fur to support it, and a menacingly majestic golden mask.
[King of Furred Beasts, Attack Power 2500]
The subordinates cheered loudly in response.
"Boss's King of Furred Beasts!"
"Once this guy is on the field, Boss is invincible!"
Yugen was somewhat familiar with the Mao Zha and Fur Beast card deck combination. Overall, when King of Furred Beasts is in the graveyard, there are various ways to bounce back Mao Zha, and by sacrificing Mao Zha on the field, King of Furred Beasts can continuously revive.
Kurosaki seemed quite proud, rubbing his nose.
"So, the revolver, huh? A newbie just entering the field, right? Let me educate you on the respect you should have for your elders."
"Activate the Continuous Magic 'Unity of the Race'.
If there is only one type of original race monster in your graveyard, all monsters of that race on your field gain 800 attack power!"
Yugen realized, "So, all in the graveyard are beasts?"
"Hahaha, that's right. Therefore, all my beast race monsters gain an 800 attack power increase!" Kurosaki laughed heartily.
[Flame Tiger, Attack Power 1800 → Attack Power 2600]
[King of Furred Beasts, Attack Power 2500 → Attack Power 3300]
Unity of the Race, for a single-race card deck, provides a significant boost to all monsters, indeed a good choice.
"Battle, King of Furred Beasts attacks 'Amazonian Swordsmen'!"
The King of Furred Beasts stalked forward menacingly, its massive shadow pressing down on the Amazonian Swordsmen. Despite the intense situation, the rugged and fierce swordswoman showed no fear, gripping her long sword tightly, preparing to confront the menace.
By strength alone, a mere 4-star low-level swordsman naturally couldn't match up to the current force on the field.
However, the Amazonian swordswoman was once renowned in her time as the "Underworld Knight," a common powerhouse in many solitary decks, with her unique attributes.
The swordsman fought desperately, but her weapon could not withstand the fierce onslaught of the King of Furred Beasts. Her sword shattered from the mighty blow, and she let out a soft groan, staggering back and collapsing into fragments.
Yet though she left the field, half of the broken sword remained. The fragments of the shattered sword soared, spinning a few mid-air circles before reversing its direction, shooting toward Kurosaki.
This sudden change was unexpected, and the two monsters on Kurosaki's field were caught off guard, watching helplessly as the broken sword passed between them and pierced straight through Kurosaki's body.
"Ugh!"
The impact of the Dark Duel felt as if a real blade had pierced his body. Kurosaki groaned in pain, lowering his head in disbelief and confusion.
[Kurosaki, LP 4000 → LP 2200]
What just happened?
Clearly, their monster was the one defeated, so why was he the one receiving damage?
"When Amazonian Swordsmen engage in battle, if the controller takes battle damage," Yugen explained, "that damage is dealt to the opponent instead."
This effect only triggers when the controller receives battle damage. In other words, if the Amazonian swordsman wins the fight, the opponent takes damage; if she loses, the opponent still takes damage. Hence, she earned the title 'Underworld Knight.'
Being outplayed left Kurosaki slightly displeased, but he quickly scoffed.
"Heh, just a momentary oversight, tricking me with cheap tactics, but no harm done. My Immortal King of Furred Beasts... what the!?"
He hadn't finished speaking when he widened his eyes in shock, looking at his field.
The King of Furred Beasts, which had just crushed the Amazonian Swordsmen, was now beginning to fade and become translucent until it disappeared completely.
Kurosaki was astounded.
"Where's my King of Furred Beasts!?"
He looked up in shock, only to see a trap already triggered in Yugen's backfield.
Continuous Trap - Amazon's Rush.
He couldn't have seen or heard of it before. This card was produced in Yugen's lab only recently, a new core card for the Amazon series, and this was its debut use in front of others.
"Amazon's Rush," Yugen said, "when your 'Amazon' monster battles an opponent's monster, and after damage calculation... that monster is banished from the game."
Kurosaki: "!!!"
What kind of cursed exorcism effect is this?
The battle damage is dealt to me, and afterward, my monster is sent to another dimension?
He immediately realized the severity of the problem.
His deck revolves around the Mao Zha system. The King of Furred Beasts is his absolute trump card, and most of his deck supports and enhances the King of Furred Beasts. The King of Furred Beasts can be continually revived as long as you summon Mao Zha and sacrifice it.
But that premise is that the destroyed King of Furred Beasts is in the graveyard.
If it's sent to another dimension...
Kurosaki's face turned grim.
Moreover, that cursed 'Amazon's Rush' is a continuous trap, meaning as long as it remains on the field, all Amazon monsters become exorcising tools that send monsters to another dimension with a single touch...
"Hmm? Not going to make a move?"
Yugen squinted.
"Weren't you going to show me the power of a veteran, Brother Kurosaki?"
Kurosaki: "..."
He gritted his teeth, speaking in a low voice.
"Don't get cocky too soon, kid. With your field now empty, and I still have Flame Tiger ready to attack.
Go, Flame Tiger, direct attack!"
Flame Tiger lunged at Yugen.
"Now activating the other effect of the Continuous Trap 'Amazon's Rush'," Yugen announced.
Kurosaki felt his heart race.
Another effect?
"Once per turn, during the battle phase, I can Special Summon one 'Amazon' from my hand. Additionally, the attack power of the Amazon Special Summoned by this effect increases by 500 until the end of the turn."
Yugen revealed a card in his hand.
"Special Summon 'Amazon Scout' in Defense Position."
A cloaked and masked female scout in a blue cloak appeared on the field, crouching defensively in front of Yugen.
[Amazon Scout, Defense Power 1200]
"Of course, since I summoned a monster, the battle replays. You can choose to continue attacking with Flame Tiger, or you can opt not to attack."
Yugen chuckled.
"But you probably already know. 'Amazon's Rush' is still on the field, and after battling with an Amazon monster, your monster will be banished from the game."
"So, decide. Do you want to continue the attack, or forsake it?"
Kurosaki: "..."