"After the attack, the Flowing Electric Double-Horned Beast self-destructs!"
As Bleu's voice fell, the double-horned beast exploded with a bang, blasting into fragments scattered everywhere.
"The effect of the Flowing Electric Double-Horned Beast, here we go, both of us will send seven cards from the top of our decks to the graveyard!" Bleu said with a smug smile.
Yugen shrugged and obediently drew seven cards, sending them one by one into the D-Wheel's graveyard.
"And at this exact moment, another trap is also triggered!"
Bleu laughed heartily and waved to activate a card in the back field.
"Trap Card 'Tragic Trigger'!
This card can only be activated when other cards on your field are destroyed by magic or trap effects, sending five cards from the top of the opponent's deck to the graveyard!" (Original Card)
Yugen said, "The Flowing Electric Double-Horned Beast was destroyed due to Reviving its trap 'Regretful Tuning', which is a trap effect, so it can trigger Tragic Trigger, right."
"That's right," Bleu said, "Alright, send another five cards from the top of your deck to the graveyard!"
Yugen slowly drew another five cards from the deck, inserting them into the graveyard card by card.
Bleu's smile grew even more smug.
With this, the opponent's remaining deck is only 12 cards, it's close, very close.
The opponent's deck is like a candle in the wind, soon to be completely depleted. And the fewer cards in the deck, the fewer tactical combinations available, perhaps many combinations have already been destroyed in the previous card-depleting process...
... Well, at least that's what Bleu thought.
"Cover a card, turn end," Bleu said.
Yugen: "My turn, draw."
Yugen glimpsed at the drawn card lazily and said, "Then I'll directly attack with Iron Knight Kia."
Bleu's field was empty again; if Yugen's remaining Iron Knight and Temple Guardian hit, it would be Yugen's victory.
But of course Bleu wouldn't allow such an easy attack to go through. He chuckled and waved again: "Activate the cover card, Continuous Trap 'Evil Resurrection'!
Pay 800 Life Points, choose a Synchro Monster from your graveyard, Special Summon it in Attack Position!"
[Bleu, LP 2200 → LP 1400]
"I Revive 'Flowing Electric Double-Horned Beast' from the graveyard!"
Electricity surged, light coalesced into the monster's form, and the repeatedly hopping Flowing Electric Double-Horned Beast resurrected onto the field once more.
[Flowing Electric Double-Horned Beast, Attack Power 2500]
"Of course, it's revived again, so cancel the attack, I won't attack," Yugen said, "Iron Knight, return."
Bleu hummed smugly. Another battle phase passed, leaving the opponent's deck with only 11 cards, most likely making the next turn the final turn, surely being able to deplete the opponent's deck.
The result of this duel is a victory for myself!
"Cover a monster on the field in Face-down Defense Position," Yugen said calmly, "Then activate the effect of 'AD Changer' from the graveyard. By banishing this card from the game, I can change a monster on the field's position.
I switch the face-down monster to Attack Position."
[Transformation Pot, Attack Power 700]
"Since you are eager to deplete cards, I'll help you out," Yugen smiled, "When Transformation Pot flips, both sides discard all cards in hand, then draw five cards from the deck."
Bleu: "???"
This time he was truly shocked.
This guy... does he really understand the situation?
The deck only has 11 cards left, that 11-card deck is like a flickering candle in the wind. Yet, in such a situation, he still wants to accelerate card drawing, isn't this a deliberate self-destruction?
Yugen redrew five cards: "I draw another five cards.
But when 'Temple Guardian' is on the field, the opponent cannot draw cards outside of the draw phase. So you must discard all cards in your hand but cannot draw."
"Nani!?"
Bleu was shocked.
This tactic... turns out to be Hand Destruction!?
I aimed at deck destruction, but the opponent went for hand destruction?
Making me discard all cards without drawing, while the opponent can draw five cards... Bleu instantly understood. Such a combo is indeed a terrifying tactic, once successful, it's basically a death sentence for the opponent.
But losing a hand of cards now was a bit painful, yet at this moment the opponent's deck only had six cards left. And on my field, there is still the Flowing Electric Double-Horned Beast, no matter how the opponent destroys it, the effect will trigger, sending seven cards from the deck to the graveyard. Then the opponent will have no cards left...
Yugen: "Activate Magic Card 'Flowing Treasure Scroll', draw two cards from the deck. But at the end of the turn, one card must be sent to the graveyard, otherwise, you take 3000 points of damage." (Original Card)
Bleu was stunned.
Still drawing?
With only six cards left... with this draw, only four will remain.
But Yugen was not done: "Activate Magic Card 'Double Gate', banish a card with the same name from the graveyard, draw two cards."
Bleu: "..."
Two cards remaining in the deck.
Crazy, this guy has completely lost it. Isn't this self-destruction?
"Magic Card 'Goblin Tycoon', I draw one card, and the opponent gains 1000 Life Points."
[Bleu, LP 1400 → LP 2400]
Bleu: "..."
He was now 80% sure, this guy is indeed crazy.
"Activate Continuous Magic 'Regeneration'," Yugen said, "During your own standby phase, pay 300 Life Points to return a card other than Monster Cards to the bottom of the deck from the graveyard.
Finally, cover a card and end the turn."
He paused, sending a card to the graveyard.
"Of course, at the end phase, send a card to the graveyard to avoid damage according to the effect of 'Flowing Treasure Scroll'."
Bleu frowned.
Can't understand what this guy is trying to do, but the chance has come.
"My turn, draw card..."
"At this moment, activate the cover card," Yugen interrupted, "Speed Attack Magic 'Flag and Drum Grandly'!
Equip one Equipment Magic from your own graveyard to your monster on the field!
I'll equip the Magic Card 'Thief's Smoke Jade' to 'Iron Knight - Jia Fried' from the graveyard."
Bleu frowned: "All this trouble for just one Equipment..."
"Iron Knight - Jia Fried's effect, when an Equipment Card is equipped to this card, that Equipment Card is destroyed," Yugen said. "Thus, 'Thief's Smoke Jade' is destroyed.
Next is the effect of 'Thief's Smoke Jade'. When this card is destroyed, you can view your opponent's hand and select one card to discard."
Bleu: "!"
He looked at the only card he had just drawn, and couldn't help but grit his teeth.
Is this still an extension of the Hand Destruction tactic...
"Ah, I see, making sure that even if I draw a card next turn, I still have no usable hand."
Bleu sent his only card to the graveyard and shouted.
"No matter. Then I'll attack with 'Flowing Electric Double-Horned Beast'!"
"Sorry, that's not possible." Yugen snapped his fingers, "Activate the Cover Card, Continuous Trap 'Torture Wheel'!
This card can select one monster on the field, and that monster cannot attack, while inflicting 500 points of damage to your opponent during each of your standby phases.
I'll bind 'Flowing Electric Double-Horned Beast's attack with this card."
"Uh..."
Bleu looked at the large, spiky wheel, akin to an instrument of torture, locking his ace's attack, and couldn't help but grit his teeth again.
No hand cards, no usable cover cards, the only monster's attack is sealed...
There's truly nothing left to do. Bleu reluctantly declared the end of his turn.
Fine, won't attack. Anyway, the opponent's deck seems out of cards, so there should be no more changes. Wait until I can attack again after drawing a card next turn.
The card drawn this turn wasn't even used and got shaved by the opponent. Can you keep shaving it next turn?
"My turn, draw a card," Yugen said. "Continuous Magic 'Regeneration' effect. I pay 300 Life Points to return a card other than a Monster Card from the graveyard to the bottom of the deck."
[Yugen, LP 3300 → LP 3000]
"I'll return the Speed Attack Magic 'Flag and Drum Grandly' to the bottom of the deck from the graveyard... well, though it's the bottom, my deck only has one card."
Yugen smiled.
Bleu: "!"
Recovered 'Flag and Drum Grandly'... Right, as long as 'Regeneration' remains, the opponent's deck will never run out.
Yugen: "Set a card, end the turn.
During the end of the turn phase, 'Torture Wheel's effect, you take 500 points of damage."
[Bleu, LP 2400 → LP 1900]
Bleu: "My turn, draw a card..."
"Activate the Cover Card," Yugen said, "Speed Attack Magic 'Armed Regeneration', allows a player to equip an Equipment Magic from their or their opponent's graveyard to a monster on the field.
I'll equip 'Thief's Smoke Jade' to 'Iron Knight - Jia Fried' from the graveyard once again."
"Iron Knight - Jia Fried's effect, the equipped 'Thief's Smoke Jade' is destroyed."
"Thief's Smoke Jade's effect, discard an opponent's card upon destruction. Well, discard the card you just drew."
Bleu: "..."
Darn, once again no cards.
Thus, this turn's status is exactly the same as last turn. No hand, no field... oh, wait, not a completely empty field, the field has one Flowing Electric Double-Horned Beast trapped by the Torture Wheel. But it can't attack, and there's nothing to operate, still can only end the turn.
At that moment, Bleu's pupils shrank.
Wait...
The opponent's deck consists of only that one card, and the card to be drawn next turn is 'Flag and Drum Grandly', the card returned from last turn's 'Regeneration'...
Bleu broke into a cold sweat.
"My turn, draw a card."
Yugen said casually.
"Standby phase, 'Regeneration's effect, I pay 300 Life Points to recover 'Armed Regeneration' to the bottom of the deck from the graveyard... well, there's only this one card in the deck, bottom or top makes no difference."
Yugen retrieved the card from the graveyard and slipped it back into the deck.
"Then I set a covered card onto the field, end the turn."
"End phase, 'Torture Wheel's effect, 500 points of damage."
[Bleu, LP 1900 → LP 1400]
Bleu was drenched in cold sweat, already feeling his hands and feet turn cold.
"Alright, it's your turn." Yugen chuckled softly, "Not going to draw a card?"
Bleu hesitated for a long time, finally reluctantly said: "My turn, draw a card..."
"Activate the Cover Card, Speed Attack Magic 'Flag and Drum Grandly', equip 'Thief's Smoke Jade' from the graveyard to Iron Knight," Yugen said, "Iron Knight's effect, 'Thief's Smoke Jade' is destroyed.
Then 'Thief's Smoke Jade's effect, discard your card. Discard the card you just drew."
Bleu's face twitched, expression filled with Facial Art and excitement.
Crap!
Another new turn, still no hand cards, no usable cards, can't attack, seems like can only stare blankly for three minutes then end the turn...
Armed Regeneration and Flag and Drum Grandly, both cards can equip 'Thief's Smoke Jade' to the 'Iron Knight' on the field from the graveyard. Each time it's equipped, it shaves Bleu's only hand card.
Then Continuous Magic 'Regeneration' allows these two magic cards to be infinitely recycled...
In other words, if this continues, no matter how many turns pass, Bleu will never have hand cards, eternally stuck in this situation staring blankly.
And 500 Life Points burn from 'Torture Wheel' each turn...
Upon realizing this, Bleu understood.
Though his Life Points appear to remain, but it's merely an illusion.
He's already dead.