"The effect of 'Chaotic Air Stream' allows two 'Cloud Monsters - Little Smoke Balls' to be Special Summoned from the deck!"
Ammon played another Magic Card from his hand.
"Next, I'll activate the Magic Card 'Double Summon' from my hand!
According to this card's effect, I can gain an additional Normal Summon opportunity this turn, allowing me to perform two Normal Summons.
I will use the two 'Cloud Monsters - Little Smoke Balls' on the field as sacrifices for an Upper-level Summon—
—Cloud Monster - Typhoon Eye!"
It was as if the pent-up anger of nature exploded, the wind no longer a gentle whisper but transformed into a raging beast, rushing in from all sides, swirling the air into a cyclone. The massive force solidified into a tangible storm in the sky.
The air was pulled apart, forming a chaotic sea of clouds. At its center, a gigantic cloud mass took on a human-like shape, manifesting a torso and arms, with a huge single eye suddenly opening amidst the swirling mists, resembling turbulent dark clouds.
This was Ammon's ace in his Cloud Monster deck, his current strongest monster, the Cloud Monster - Typhoon Eye!
[Cloud Monster - Typhoon Eye, Attack Power 3000]
"Clouds are not just gentle and carefree," Ammon declared. "They possess unimaginable resilience, and there are times they become furious.
And once the wrath of the clouds is ignited, the force that one faces is absolute destruction!"
Ammon pointed towards Yugen's field.
"Cloud Monster - Typhoon Eye, attack Silent Magician LV8!"
Silent: "!"
Clearly, its Attack Power is lower, yet it still chooses to attack...
She gripped her Magic Staff tightly, channeling magic power into it, preparing to concentrate, but suddenly she felt the rush of wind, nearly losing her balance, forced to her knees, the cards at her feet tipping over.
[Silent Magician LV8, Attack Power 3500→Defense Power 1000]
Silent was taken aback.
Switched to defense... why?
"The effect of Cloud Monster - Typhoon Eye," Ammon sneered. "When Typhoon Eye declares an attack, all monsters on the field except Cloud Monsters change their position!"
Although Silent Magician excels in attack, its defense is quite ordinary, leaving her no choice but to be swept away by the typhoon and temporarily retreat.
"Cloud Monster - Cloud Rain Man's direct attack!" Ammon shouted sharply. "I'll win this duel!"
"That's not certain."
Yugen casually raised a hand.
"Activate Cover Card, Trap Card 'Precise Defense'.
During the opponent's attack declaration, Special Summon a monster with Defense Position of level 4 or lower from your own graveyard."
Yugen showcased the Monster Card retrieved from the graveyard.
"Special Summon 'Royal Magic Library' in Defense Position."
[Royal Magic Library, Defense Power 2000]
Ammon was stunned: "When did this monster...?"
He quickly realized.
The discard from the previous Deceitful Mage's hand...
"A monster summoned by the effect of 'Precise Defense' cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects this turn," Yugen explained.
"Tsk..."
Ammon scoffed.
"Then I'll activate the Magic Card 'Temporary Truce', where both players draw a card from their deck, and until the end of the next turn, all damage received becomes zero."
Chaotic Air Stream can only exist on the field in Attack Position, and if it switches to Defense, it self-destructs. Although as a Cloud Monster, it won't be destroyed by battle, its Attack Power is only 800 and would sustain significant damage if attacked.
This was clearly Ammon's precaution to avoid damage.
Ammon: "Next, I'll activate the Magic Card 'Treasure Card Cloud'.
Because two 'Cloud Monsters - Little Smoke Balls' with the same name were summoned this turn, I can draw two cards from the deck during the end phase."
Ammon sent the Magic Card to the graveyard after activation.
"The turn ends. And during this End Phase, I'll draw two cards from the deck."
Ammon drew two more cards, then stated in a low voice.
"The drawback of Typhoon Eye, this card's Attack Power decreases by 500 points at the end of each turn." (Original effect)
[Cloud Monster - Typhoon Eye, Attack Power 3000→Attack Power 2500]
The physical card removed this frustrating drawback, making the Typhoon Eye card stronger than in the animation.
"My turn, draw."
Yugen drew a card, then squinted as he looked at Ammon and glanced at the Cloud Monsters on the field.
Unexpectedly, he chuckled aloud.
Ammon frowned: "What's so funny?"
"Oh, nothing. I just suddenly felt that, through your deck, I can see the contradictions in yourself."
Yugen gazed playfully at him.
"Cloud Monsters, depending on the weather changes, assume different postures. In good weather, the corresponding Cloud Monsters appear cute. In bad weather, they become sinister and terrifying.
This ever-changing nature, expertly handling all faces, isn't this precisely you, Ammon Galem?"
Ammon: "..."
"You're an exceptional spy, the perfect warrior of the Galem Financial Group. But after disguising for so long, having worn so many masks, can you still remember which one is your true face?"
Ammon coldly stated, "My matters need no concern from you. I know exactly who I am, and what I want."
"Oh, really?"
Yugen's smile grew even more peculiar, making Ammon feel a bit unsettled.
"Then, how about a Dark Game?" Yugen lightly suggested.
"What?" Ammon's nerves instinctively tightened at the mention of a Dark Game.
"No need to be anxious. Although it's called a Dark Game, it's just a small game." Yugen smiled, "It won't wager anything significant, but... let's say... it's like helping you better face yourself."
He gestured towards the Duel Disc in Ammon's hand.
"Your deck, the Cloud Monsters, they symbolize your self-awareness, right? The mysterious and resilient clouds that can recover from any blow, ever-changing, with as many faces as needed, the Cloud Monsters.
Then let's use this deck, your closest kin, as a microcosm of your life for our little game."
Ammon was puzzled: "What are you talking about?"
"Explaining would be complicated... but you'll understand soon through firsthand experience."
Yugen smiled.
"My turn, draw."
"I'll activate the Magic Card 'Magic Stone Mining', discarding two cards to return a Magic Card from the graveyard to the hand."
Yugen discarded two cards from his hand.
"I return the Equipment Magic 'Magical Wand' from my graveyard to my hand."
"At this moment, the effect of 'Royal Magic Library' activates. Whenever a Magic Card is activated, a Mana Indicator is placed on this card."
Yugen pointed at the library with its lit indicator light, smiling slightly.
"Don't blink, the exciting part is just about to begin."