"The Storm's effect destroys the 'Silent Magician'!"
Ammon shouted, a transparent storm arose, sweeping through the Silent Magician. The Magician's body was consumed by tsunami-like waves, exploding into a brilliant white light.
But that white light immediately gathered again, transforming into an even brighter magic array, like a white hexagram barrier!
"When Silent Magician is destroyed in battle or by an opponent's effect, it special summons a 'Silent Magician' monster from the hand or deck, ignoring its summoning conditions."
A white light shot out from Yugen's card deck.
"From the intersection of chaos and order blooms a silent brilliance, Light Magician descends here—
——Silent Magician Lv8!"
After being destroyed, it immediately evolved into a more advanced form, with a face as cold as frost, the mage held a magic staff, bathing in holy light, with a sacred aura descending slowly from the white light barrier.
[Silent Magician Lv8, Attack Power 3500]
Ammon slightly furrowed his brow.
Indeed, a troublesome magician.
"And as the cost for the trap 'Storm' card explosion," Yugen said, "'Cloud Monster - Cloud Rain Man's' attack power decreases by 1000 points."
[Cloud Monster - Cloud Rain Man, Attack Power 2500→ Attack Power 1500]
Ammon snorted softly and stopped speaking.
"Moreover, since Silent Magician Lv8 was special summoned during the battle phase, this turn's battle phase is not yet over. Therefore, I can still declare an attack this turn."
Yugen waved a large hand.
"Silent Magician Lv8, attack 'Cloud Monster - Cloud Rain Man'!"
The Silent Magician's face remained icy cold, showing no fluctuation. The magic staff in her hand slowly rose, gathering white light upon it, forming a dazzling ball of light.
As the staff descended, a tyrannical white light blasted forth, sweeping over Ammon's field like a surging wave.
Cloud Monster - Cloud Rain Man's form was instantly shattered by the tide of white mana, disintegrating into fragments of clouds. The powerful shockwave did not abate, sweeping through Ammon, causing him to stumble, half-kneeling on the ground.
[Ammon, LP4000→ LP2000]
But after taking the shock, he quickly propped himself up on one knee, chuckling: "A powerful attack indeed, worthy of a king. But I won't fall that easily... neither will my monsters."
As he spoke, the already scattered fragments of the Cloud Monster, as if pulled by gravity, began to reassemble.
The fragments gathered into a humanoid shape, forming a short and stout body, unharmed compared to before, except the eyes now bore a hint of fury.
[Cloud Monster - Cloud Rain Man, Attack Power 1500]
"Cloud Monster monsters cannot be destroyed by battle," Ammon said as he stood up, "No matter how many times they're scattered, they will resolutely return to their original form, undaunted by a hundred trials."
This is the Cloud Monster, this is my card deck."
"Is this how you see yourself?" Yugen said, "It is indeed a commendable trait. Ammon Galem, I know about you. You are certainly a rare talent.
Let's just put it this way..."
Yugen narrowed his eyes, half his face shrouded in shadow.
"You have the 'King's Potential,' Ammon Galem."
Ammon: "!"
Ammon outwardly remained calm, but inside, it was like a storm had been unleashed.
This guy... could he really understand me so well?
"Yes, you appear to have lost all ambition; you've willingly become a stepping stone for your brother, clearing any obstacles for him, even willing to dirty your own hands."
Yugen calmly said.
"You've made everyone believe that, not just those around you, perhaps even yourself."
"But deep down, have you truly given up on your ambition, your ideals?"
Ammon: "..."
Yugen shrugged.
"Just mentioning it casually, don't take it to heart... set two cards face down, ending my turn."
Ammon gritted his teeth.
Casually mentioned?
No, that couldn't be a mere casual mention. This guy must have done plenty of preparation, coming fully equipped.
Enough, focus on the duel first.
Ammon took a deep breath.
"My turn, draw a card!"
Ammon drew a card, then slapped one onto the duel disc.
"I normally summon 'Cloud Monster - Chaotic Air Stream'!"
As its name implies, with the card landing on the duel disc, a turbulent and chaotic airflow whipped up on the field, swirling together like a tornado. The form appeared as a cloud made from swift streams of air, constantly rotating at high speed.
[Cloud Monster - Chaotic Air Stream, Attack Power 800]
"Chaotic Air Stream," Yugen murmured.
It looked unremarkable, with an attack power of merely 800. But this was likely the Cloud Monster card Yugen favored the most.
Because by modern Yu-Gi-Oh! standards, this card also possessed great potential.
"Cloud Monster - Chaotic Air Stream's effect: upon successful summoning, place 'Cloud Counters' on it equal to the number of monsters on the field with 'Cloud Monster' in their name!"
Ammon pointed at the monsters on his field.
"Now on my field, there are 'Cloud Monster - Cloud Rain Man' and 'Cloud Monster - Chaotic Air Stream,' so two Cloud Monsters. Therefore, place two 'Cloud Counters' on Chaotic Air Stream!"
[Cloud Monster - Chaotic Air Stream, Cloud Counters 0→ 2]
"The subsequent effect of Cloud Monster - Chaotic Air Stream is, by removing a 'Cloud Counter' from itself, it can special summon a 'Cloud Monster - Little Smoke Ball' from the deck or either graveyard!"
Ammon shouted.
"This effect is not once per turn.
So, I remove two Cloud Counters from Chaotic Air Stream, special summoning two 'Cloud Monster - Little Smoke Balls' from the deck!"
Chaotic Air Stream emitted a low growl, quickly stirring up a hurricane. The storm formed two whirlwinds on the field, with each vortex coalescing into a cute little cloud ball, appearing on the field.
[Cloud Monster - Little Smoke Ball, Defense Power 600]x2
Little Smoke Ball is the only ordinary monster in the Cloud Monster card deck.
So this is the strength of the Chaotic Air Stream card. Assuming there were already two Cloud Monsters on the field, summoning Chaotic Air Stream gives it three counters. Removing three counters allows you to summon three Little Smoke Balls from the deck or graveyard, easily transforming one card into four monsters.
And the effect of summoning Little Smoke Balls is not once per turn, so conceivably, in the presence of enough Cloud Counters, the summoned Little Smoke Balls can be consumed of resources, then repeatedly summoned back onto the field with the effect of Chaotic Air Stream, one card producing endless resources.
Such an astonishing individual card performance, yet it's only in the underwhelming Cloud Monster deck that it seems unremarkable.
However, on the other hand, Consortium K has been crazily strengthening various old GX Era card decks these years, but hasn't paid much attention to Cloud Monsters so far, and it's hard to say this isn't because of Chaotic Air Stream.
After all, precisely because such a overpowered card, random enhancements could easily create another universal plug-in capable of rampaging through the various mainstreams...